KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Bursa Malaysia ended marginally higher today in range-bound trading with buying interest confined to selected heavyweights in finance and telecommunication sectors.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended 1.67 points or 0.10 per cent higher at 1,662.92, against yesterday’s close of 1,661.25.

The market bellwether, which opened better at 1,663.43 this morning, fluctuated between 1,656.28 and 1,664.25 throughout the day.

Market breadth was negative as losers led gainers 477 to 288 while 405 counters were unchanged, 488 untraded and 26 others suspended.

Volume rose to 1.62 billion units worth RM2.15 billion from 1.49 billion units worth RM1.94 billion recorded yesterday.

A dealer said investors remained cautious amid mixed sentiment on the external front including the potential interest rate increase by the US Federal Reserve, while a news report said the European Central Bank might reduce its stimulus package.

“However, the higher oil prices had helped to cushion a further fall in the equity market,” said the dealer.

The international benchmark Brent crude hit US$51.72 per barrel from US$50.49 per barrel in its previous close.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index rose 4.79 points to 11,760.63, the FBMT100 Index increased 7.20 points to 11,464.04 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index added 11.41 points to 12,430.79.

The FBM 70 however fell 6.82 points to 13,834.69 and the FBM Ace was 52.52 points lower at 5,183.64.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index rose 35.20 points to 14,285.04, the Industrial Index put on 16.69 points to 3,126.94 but the Plantation Index was 63.02 points weaker at 7,886.47.

Of the heavyweights, Tenaga was flat at RM14.34, Public Bank rose four sen to RM19.92, Maybank improved seven sen to RM7.65, Axiata added three sen to RM5.28 while Sime Darby gained 20 sen to RM7.81.

Among actives, Perisai Petroleum Teknologi and Borneo Oil each dipped half-a-sen each to 8.5 sen and 18 sen, respectively, while AT Systematization added one sen to 7.5 sen.

Main market turnover decreased to 1.07 billion shares valued at RM2.08 billion from 1.08 billion shares worth RM1.87 billion recorded yesterday.

The ACE Market volume swelled to 294.06 million units valued at RM29.39 million from 164.72 million units worth RM23.54 million.

Warrants increased to 254.52 million shares worth RM45.16 million against 237.27 million shares worth RM45.57 million.

Consumer products accounted for 58.22 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (204.10 million), construction (52.99 million), trade and services (506.98 million), technology (35.94 million), infrastructure (18 million), SPAC (35.16 million), finance (60.36 million), hotels (436,300), properties (72.35 million), plantations (19.66 million), mining (nil), REITs (12.55 million) and closed/fund (252,300). — Bernama