KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed at a new all-time high today, boosted by firm buying from foreign investors, with interest seen in selected heavyweights. The key index settled at 1,887.07, surpassing the previous all-time high of 1,879.2 recorded on Friday. The index hit an intra-day high of 1,889.47 earlier in the day.

A dealer said the recent announcement of Malaysia’s first-quarter gross domestic product by Bank Negara Malaysia last Friday was the main driver of the market today.

Malaysia registered a strong growth of 6.2 per cent in the first three months of the year compared with 5.1 per cent registered in the fourth quarter of 2014, driven by a stronger expansion in domestic demand and a turnaround in net exports.

On the scoreboard, the Plantation Index rose 17.40 points to 9,383.52, the Finance Index appreciated 40.22 points to 17,124.07 but the Industrial Index shed 1.81 points to 3,204.9.

The FBM Emas Index expanded 23.49 points to 13,018.96, the FBMT100 Index went up 24.07 points to 12,668.87, the FBM 70 was firmer by 22.77 points to 14,054.89 but the Ace Index fell 22.17 points to 6,647.23.

Market breadth was positive as advancers outpaced decliners by 413 to 382, with 330 counters unchanged, 502 untraded and 20 others suspended.

Volume increased to 2.324 billion shares worth RM2.389 billion from 1.68 billion shares worth RM2.301 billion transacted last Friday.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank gained three sen to RM9.98, TNB rose 14 sen to RM12.20, CIMB increased five sen to RM7.37 while Public Bank and Axiata were flat at RM19.84 and RM7 respectively.

Among actives, Telekom Malaysia surged 13 sen to RM6.58, CLIQ Energy edged up half-a-sen to 67.5 sen while Ideal Sun City Holdings and EA Holdings were unchanged at 32 sen and 19 sen respectively.

Main Market volume was higher at 1.77 billion units worth RM2.28 billion, from the 1.36 billion units worth RM2.19 billion transacted last Friday.

Turnover on the ACE market increased to 451.78 million shares valued at RM93.77 million, from last Friday’s 280.30 million shares valued at RM103.04 million.

Warrants declined to 34.01 million units worth RM5.24 million, from 35.91 million units worth RM7.51 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 121.92 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 185.11 million, construction 95.85 million, trade and services 842.82 million, technology 84.86 million, infrastructure 51.20 million, SPAC 177.6 million, finance 54.25 million, hotels 247,600, properties 134.28 million, plantations 22.9 million, mining 41,900, REITs 4.63 million and closed/fund 33,500. — Bernama