KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 ― Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the morning higher today, with the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advancing 6.81 points to 1,640.85, prompted by gains in key index-linked counters as TNB and Public Bank.

Sentiment was also in line with regional bourses.     

The FBM KLCI had opened a marginal 0.12 of a point higher at 1,634.16 and moved between 1,630.51 and 1,641.53 throughout the morning session.

Gainers outpaced losers 364 to 279, while 329 counters were unchanged, 755 untraded and 47 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 697.75 million shares worth RM594.85 million.              

A dealer said the market had stabilised after the United Kingdom's exit (Brexit) from the European Union with people not afraid to invest.

Regionally, the Nikkei 225 index gained 1.73 per cent to 15,587.53, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.71 per cent to 20,316.57, while the SSE Composite Index of the Shanghai Stock Exchange improved 0.48 per cent to 2,926.46.

Alliance DBS Research in a note said the FBM KLCI would likely trade above the 1,635.86 level today.

Meanwhile, Kenanga Research said the FBM KLCI is expected to undergo a volatile trading week ahead, with much uncertainty over the global economy, the Brexit scenario, ringgit and movement of global oil prices movement.

“Downside-bias trading by the local bourse within 1,600-1,640 is still very much expected this week.

“Overhead resistance remain fixated at 1,640 and 1,650 with support pillars at 1,620 and 1,600,” it said in a note.

On Bursa, Maybank eased one sen to RM8.18, TNB improved 10 sen to RM14.08, Public Bank rose 18 sen to RM19.36,while Petronas Chemicals and Petronas Gas advanced four sen each to RM6.50 and RM21.88 respectively.

CIMB Group and Genting gained three sen each to RM4.31 and RM8.01, while IHH Healthcare was flat at RM6.50.

Among gainers, Scientax increased 40 sen to RM12.40, Bintulu Port expanded 37 sen to RM7.00, BAT expanded 36 sen to RM50.60, Dutch Lady was 34 sen higher at RM58.46 and Pestech rose 20 sen to RM6.70.

For actives, Vivocom and SapuraKencana were flat at 24.5 sen and RM1.42 respectively, while KNM Group fell half-a-sen to 41.5 sen and Bumi Armada recovered one sen for 71 sen.

The FBM Emas Index jumped 43.08 points to 11,446.38, the FBMT100 Index gained 43.05 points to 11,153.75, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index bagged 42.85 points to 12,015.19.

The FBM70 advanced 37.93 points to 12,889.15, but the FBM Ace was 17.95 points lower at 5,159.01.

The Finance Index appreciated 94.43 points to 14,132.88, the Plantation Index gained 17.43 points to 7,567.70, and the Industrial Index increased 8.77 points to 3,072.34. ― Bernama