BURSA Malaysia remained in positive territory, inching higher at mid-morning backed by global economic optimism over massive initiatives to combat the effects of Covid-19, in addition to measures announced by the government.
At 11.07am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 2.84% or 35.78 points to 1,295.66 from yesterday’s close of 1,259.88.
On the broader market, gainers advanced losers 560 to 145, while 197 counters were unchanged, 1,116 not traded and 18 others suspended.
Turnover amounted to 1.19 billion shares worth RM669.60 mil.
The financial and energy indices showed upbeat performance, rising by 5.64% and 5.32% respectively.
Among the heavyweights, banking counters led the gains with Maybank up 22 sen to RM7.34 and Public Bank rose RM1.12 to RM15.02, while Tenaga climbed 38 sen to RM12.28.
Of the actives, oil and gas-related counters dominated with Sapura Energy adding one sen to eight sen and Hibiscus increasing 2.5 sen to 31 sen and Perdana inching up half-a-sen to 12.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index surged 248.06 points to 8,749.72, the FBM 70 gained 282.47 points to 9,635.38 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index garnered 179.76 points to 9,508.00.
The FBMT 100 Index increased by 243.35 points to 8,701.47 and the FBM Ace rose 152.54 points to 3,504.48.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index added 1.65 points to 96.78, the Plantation Index declined 2.98 points to 5,727.72 and the Financial Services Index was 604.67 points better at 11,966.26. — March 24, 2020, Bernama
