KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The positive overnight gains on the US stock market lifted Asian equities, including Bursa Malaysia.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 17.72 points to close at 1,621.04, after moving between 1,601.54 and 1,621.86 throughout the day.

Losers led gainers by 573 to 277, while 289 counters were unchanged, 688 untraded and 53 others suspended.

Volume was at 1.69 billion shares valued at RM2.49 billion from 1.69 billion shares valued at RM1.97 billion on Tuesday.

A dealer said the improved buying sentiment today was brought about by gainers in trade and services as well as finance-linked stocks.

He said the local and other Asian stock markets were trading upwards after declining to a three-year low previously.

“The US futures stocks gained 0.8 per cent today, signalling a strong economy, but traders were still cautious over the slumping commodities prices and China’s cooling economy,” he said.

The dealer also said that market players would also be keeping their eyes on the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision by year-end.

Meanwhile, another dealer, when contacted, said that Malaysia’s 18th placing in the global economic competitiveness would help spur investors participation in the local bourse.

It was reported that Malaysia advanced two spots to 18th place out of 140 economies, consolidating its position among the world’s top 20 most competitive economies, its highest ranking since 2005.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016, unveiled by the World Economic Forum today, ranked Malaysia in 18th spot, with a score of 5.23, from the 20th place out of 144 countries last year.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank rose 17 sen to RM8.56, Public Bank gained 10 sen to RM17.52, TNB added six sen to RM12.02, while Axiata was nine sen higher at RM5.80.

On the scoreboard, the FBM 70 improved 77.56 points to 12,266.23, the FBM Ace increased 62.71 points to 5,567.55, the FBM Emas Index advanced 108.73 points to 11,201.63, the FBMT100 Index appreciated 107.65 points to 10,921.07, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index went up 108.94 points to 11,889.05.

The Finance Index edged up 96.13 points to 13,914.36, the Industrial Index was up 62.40 points to 3,166.27, and the Plantation Index perked 170.78 points to 7,157.85.

Main Market volume rose to 994.17 million units worth RM2.31 billion versus 938.29 million units worth RM1.79 billion.

Turnover on the ACE Market was up to 333.67 million shares worth RM112.57 million against 303.54 million shares worth RM72.87 million.

Warrants went down to 354.99 million units worth RM60.18 million from 450.69 million units worth RM107.74 million.

Consumer products accounted for 38.96 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (144.66 million), construction (46.02 million), trade and services (435.07 million), technology (29.44 million), infrastructure (22.74 million), SPAC (14.40 million), finance (78.54 million), hotel (1.2 million), properties (92.84 million), plantations (82.84 million), mining (301,400), REITs (7.16 million) and closed/fund (21,000). — Bernama