KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 — Buying in blue chips and index-linked counters lifted shares on Bursa Malaysia today, despite its opening lower. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished the day at 1,797.9, up 12.02 points, after fluctuating between 1,783.68 and 1,799.45 through the day.

The barometer index opened 0.96 of a point lower at 1,784.92 and lost further ground as trading momentum was weighed down by bearish sentiment in the US.

Mercury Securities Research head Edmund Tham said momentum picked up from 9:29 am as bargain hunting emerged.

“Sentiment in Bursa Malaysia is still positive but some investors are still in holiday mood, which is reflected by the thin trading volume ithese few days,” he told Bernama.

“Volume is likely to pick up next week with fresh buying interest. As for now, investors are more on accumulating mode following recent losses.”

Another dealer said most Asian bourses rallied today, as investors weighed earnings and data showing growth in US service industries against a weaker-than-expected jobs report in the private sector.

“Instead of putting more selling pressure, the local investors preferred to stay on the sidelines awaiting the important US non-farm payrolls data, to be released on Friday (tomorrow) night,” the dealer said.

On the scoreboard, the Finance Index soared 73.1 points to 16,469.43, the Plantation Index 51.54 points to 8,383.72, and the Industrial Index 37.12 points to 3,062.29. The FBM Emas Index rose 73.01 points to 12,408.69, the FBMT100 Index 70.47 points to 12,117.68, the FBM 70 38.14 points to 13,629.82, and the FBM Ace 31.51 points to 6,048.18.

Market breadth was positive as gainers thumped losers 498 to 251, while 310 counters were unchanged, 534 untraded and 17 others were suspended.

Volume rose to 1.83 billion shares worth RM2.2 billion from 1.55 billion shares valued at RM1.63 billion yesterday.

Among actives, Sumatec Resources earned 2 sen to 32 sen while IRIS Corp inched up 0.5 sen to 45 sen.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank rose 7 sen to RM9.70, TNB 8 sen to RM11.44, CIMB 1 sen to RM6.92, and Sime Darby 13 sen to RM8.95. Axiata Group was flat at RM6.50.

Main Market volume increased to 1.36 billion units worth RM2.07 billion, from 1.12 billion units worth RM1.51 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE market slipped to 407.34 million shares worth RM119.97 million from 409.02 million shares worth RM111.23 million yesterday. Warrants rose to 57.94 million units worth RM4.19 million from 20.42 million units worth RM2.30 million.

Consumer products accounted for 79.29 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 303.48 million, construction 56.98 million, trade and services 567.22 million, technology 54.01 million, infrastructure 26.64 million, SPAC 27.07 million, finance 56.24 million, hotels 579,800, properties 147.8 million, plantations 25.42 million, mining 30,000, REITs 10.352 million and closed fund 12,000. — Bernama