KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Bursa Malaysia ended slightly higher today in range-bound trading, as investors remained cautious amid mixed market sentiment, as buying interspersed with selling in blue-chip counters.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished higher, up 1.81 points at 1,691.38 from yesterday’s close of 1,689.57.

After opening 1.96 points better at 1,691.53, the local index moved between 1,686.37 and 1,692.12 throughout the day.

Gainers led decliners by 402 to 374, while 403 counters were unchanged, 491 untraded and 14 others suspended.

Volume rose to 1.69 billion units worth RM1.58 billion from 1.56 billion units worth RM1.57 billion yesterday.

A dealer said investors were cautious ahead of the meeting of several central banks in England and the European Union, while better crude oil prices and a weak ringgit induced mixed sentiment.

“Shares on Bursa Malaysia consolidated further today pending catalysts to improve the overall trading momentum, “he said.

The FBM Emas Index improved 15.68 points to 11,890.06, the FBM 70 rose 20.29 points to 13,746.56 and the FBMT 100 Index added 13.58 points to 11,592.77. The FBM Emas Shariah Index gained 14.99 points to 12,519.42 while the FBM Ace put on 5.96 points at 5,309.08.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index perked 13.66 points to 14,564.21, Plantation Index increased 38.58 points to 7,883.83 while the Industrial Index shed 7.88 points to 3,156.04.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank gained five sen to RM7.95, Public Bank shed four sen to RM19.88, Petronas Chemicals eased one sen to RM6.69 while TNB and IHH were flat at RM14.56 and RM6.65, respectively.

Among actives, Sanichi slid one sen to nine sen, M3 Technologies warrant eased half-a-sen to three sen and NWP Holdings shed 8.5 sen to 30 sen.

Main Market turnover was higher at 970.16 million shares worth RM1.47 billion from 880.76 million shares worth RM1.48 billion yesterday.

The ACE Market volume increased to 478.26 million units valued at RM66.64 million from 470.30 million units valued at RM62.04 million yesterday.

Warrants improved to 241.94 million shares worth RM40.34 million from 213.42 million shares worth RM36.19 million yesterday.

Consumer products accounted for 50.99 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (255.38 million), construction (45.21 million), trade and services (319.08 million), technology (152 million), infrastructure (10.06 million), SPAC (4.57 million), finance (44.80 million), hotels (272,800), properties (45.22 million), plantations (33.04 million), mining (106,400), REITs (9.35 million) and closed/fund (61,100). — Bernama