KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Bursa Malaysia ended higher today spurred by persistent buying momentum in oil and gas counters, as well as, penny stocks, a dealer said.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished 8.06 points higher at 1,685.62 after moving between 1,679.79 and 1,687.95 throughout the day.

Market breadth was positive as gainers thumped losers 558 to 333 while 341 counters were unchanged, 555 untraded and 14 others were suspended.

Volume fell to 2.67 billion shares, worth RM2.47 billion, from 2.8 billion shares, worth RM2.56 billion, recorded yesterday.

Inter-Pacific Research Sdn Bhd Head of Research Pong Teng Siew said the uptrend in the local market was due to the stronger ringgit and higher crude oil prices.

“This restored investors’ interest and helped to keep the sentiment upbeat,” he told Bernama.

Brent crude settled 3.6 per cent or US$1.75 (RM7.46) higher at US$50.54 a barrel while US crude oil was 3.8 per cent better at US$47.90.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index chalked up 52.68 points to 11,711.56, the FBM Emas Syariah Index advanced 48.77 points to 12,516.97 and the FBM Ace Index improved 46.80 points to 6,361.15.

The FBM 70 Index increased 48.80 points to 12,906.90 and the FBMT100 Index surged 51.73 points to 11,387.77.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index expanded 71.49 points to 14,339.86, the Industrial Index added 10.48 points to 3,332.28 and the Plantation Index rose 47.45 points to 7,604.96.

Of heavyweights, Maybank rose four sen to RM8.35, Public Bank edged up six sen to RM18.18, PetChem gained six sen to RM6.56 and Sime Darby garnered 11 sen to RM8.43 but TNB was flat at RM12.64.

Among actives, Hibiscus Petroleum gained 2.5 sen to 36.5 sen, The Media Shoppe and KNM Group each inched up half-a-sen to 10.5 sen and and 53 sen, respectively.

Main Market volume rose to 1.73 billion units, worth RM2.29 billion, from 1.67 billion units, worth RM2.06 billion, recorded on Tuesday.

Turnover on the ACE Market narrowed to 589.75 million shares, worth RM127.08 million, from 745.35 million shares, worth RM148.75 million, transacted yesterday.

Warrants decreased to 349.43 million units, valued at RM51.33 million, from Tuesday’s 380.19 million units, worth RM54.82 million.

Consumer products accounted for 158.97 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (458.571 million), construction (79.54 million), trade and services (668.22 million), technology (64 million), infrastructure (25.21 million), SPAC (12.58 million), finance (56.84 million), hotels (1.31 million), properties (164.77 million), plantations (30.46 million), mining (2,000), REITs (9.88 million), and closed/fund (12,000). — Bernama