KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 ― Bursa Malaysia stayed up at mid-afternoon today, in line with regional markets ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later tonight.
At 3.03pm, the FBM KLCI rose 1.76 points to 1,408.31 from today’s close of 1,406.55, after opening 2.05 points higher at 1408.60.
On the broader market, gainers led decliners by 442 to 371, while 379 counters were unchanged, 1,081 untraded, and seven others suspended.
Turnover amounted to 2.20 billion units worth RM1.15 billion.
Regionally, Singapore’s Straits Times Index advanced 1.54 per cent to 3,222.95, Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.93 per cent to 27,466.61 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index bounced 1.81 per cent to 19,607.53.
Back home, Bursa Malaysia heavyweight counters Maybank added eight sen to RM8.48 while CIMB and TNB both gained one sen to RM5.20 and RM9.48, respectively.
Public Bank and Petronas Chemicals shed two sen each to RM3.97 and RM6.80.
Among the actives, Green Packet and Minda Global grew half-a-sen to five sen and 14.5 sen, respectively, while Top Glove and Careplus were flat at 96 sen and 31.5 sen.
Bintai Kindan edged down half-a-sen to 7.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index climbed 15.69 points to 10,306.47, the FBM 70 Index gained 16.60 points to 13,307.05 and the FBMT 100 Index advanced 12.47 points to 9,999.80.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index bagged 15.69 points to 10,306.47 and the FBM ACE Index climbed up 17.02 points to 5,278.07.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index was 53.16 points up at 15,587.24, the Energy Index grew 18.88 points to 814.11 and the Plantation Index dropped 3.32 points to 6,749.0.
The Industrial Products and Services Index was 0.08 of a point easier at 166.93. ― Bernama
