KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the day higher, driven by across-the-board buying interest and in line with a regional rally.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI), which was traded between 1,780.21 points and 1,794.13 points, finished 7.98 points better at 1,789.23 points.

A dealer said most Asian stock markets rose today as concerns over emerging economies were subdued by the Turkish central bank’s aggressive interest rate hike to stabilise its currency, following in the footsteps of India.

“China’s infusion of funds into its banking system also encouraged the stronger performance of regional equity markets,” the dealer said.

Investors will now wait for the outcome of Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting, which is scheduled to release a monetary policy statement at 6pm today.

Heavyweights Maybank rose 2.0 sen to RM9.60, TNB added 8.0 sen to RM11.24 and CIMB gained 7.0 sen to RM6.91.

Among actives, KNM appreciated 5.5 sen to 62.5 sen but Green Packet eased half-a-sen to 44.5 sen.

Market breadth was positive as gainers outpaced losers 494 to 222, while 297 counters were unchanged, 591 untraded and 30 others suspended.

Volume was higher at 1.4 billion shares worth RM1.74 billion, from 1.362 billion shares worth RM1.863 billion registered yesterday.

On the scoreboard, the Plantation Index appreciated 15.17 points to 8,377.7 points, the Industrial Index was 16.38 points higher at 3,046.9 points and the Finance Index soared 103.17 points to 16,389.64 points.  

The FBM Emas Index added 62.69 points to 12,367.35 points, the FBMT100 Index garnered 56.9 points to 12,083.23 points, the FBM Ace increased 66.91 points to 5,890.35 and the FBM 70 gained 76.14 points to 13,684.47 points.

The Main Market volume increased to 1.15 billion units worth RM1.67 billion, from 1.095 billion units worth RM1.791 billion posted yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE market declined to 204.52 million shares worth RM58.47 million, from 222.43 million shares worth RM67.3 million yesterday.

Warrants fell to 34.57 million units worth RM3.1 million, from 43.43 million units worth RM4.034 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 126.13 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 231.15 million, construction 57.15 million, trade and services 290.68 million, technology 128.48 million, infrastructure 38.25 million, SPAC 46.93 million, finance 37.78 million, hotels 54,400, properties 171.21 million, plantations 22.47 million, mining nil, REITs 9.62 million and closed/fund 6,000. — Bernama