KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Bursa Malaysia finished higher today, propelled by gains in small-capitalised stocks with sentiment also spurred by expectations of the upcoming Budget, a dealer said.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was up 3.57 points to 1,716.82 after moving between 1,713.67 and 1,720.42 throughout the day.

A dealer told Bernama local investors were bargain hunting. She said the positive trend in the local bourse was also in tandem with the uptrend in regional bourses.

Japan’s Nikkei rose 194.9 points to 18,291.8, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 179.2 points to 23,067.37 and Jakarta Composite surged 12.91 points to 4,520.11.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose one sen to RM8.62, Public Bank increased 10 sen to RM18.68, Top Glove was up 26 sen to RM8.70, Maxis was two sen higher to RM6.84 and MAHB was flat at RM5.42.

Among actives, AirAsia rose five sen to RM1.51, Xox Bhd went up one sen to 20 sen, Wintoni added 5.5 sen to 21 sen, PUC Founder garnered two sen to 12 sen while Frontken was flat at 23 sen.

Market breadth was positive, with gainers outpacing losers by 487 to 345, while 339 counters were unchanged, 636 untraded and 17 others were suspended.

Volume increased to 2.57 billion shares worth RM2.22 billion from 2.40 billion shares worth RM2.53 billion yesterday.

Among top gainers were Sam Engineering and Equipment (+54 sen to RM7.06), Bintulu Port (+40 sen to RM6.90), Ajiya (+31 sen to RM4.00) and Top Glove (+26 sen to RM8.70) while top losers were Nestle (-RM1.48 to RM72.44), BAT (-60 sen to RM62.50) and Dutch Lady Milk Industries (-20 sen to RM47.10).

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index rose 24.56 points to 11,805.66, FBM Ace advanced 73.39 points to 6,103.4 and the FBMT100 Index improved 20.53 points to 11,509.05. The FBM Emas Shariah Index garnered 39.14 points to 12,571.59 and the FBM 70 appreciated 10.07 points to 12,715.65.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index increased 50.46 points to 14,711.11, the Industrial Index advanced 24.29 points to 3,345.07 and the Plantation Index increased 38.12 points to 7,500.06.

Main Market volume expanded to 1.34 billion units worth RM2 billion from 1.26 billion units worth RM2.3 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE Market appreciated to 860.03 million shares valued at RM151.03 million from 673.97 million shares valued at RM150.06 million previously.

Warrants declined to 374.15 million units worth RM64.33 million from 458.62 million units worth RM78.81 million, yesterday.

Consumer products accounted for 72.36 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (328.37 million), construction (55.05 million), trade and services (563.03 million), technology (37.43 million), infrastructure (20.54 million), SPAC (22.34 million), finance (46.75 million), hotel (1.54 million), properties (147.79 million), plantations (31.61 million), mining (2,000), REITs (13.65 million) and closed/fund (17,000). — Bernama