BURSA Malaysia extended its earlier gains to close broadly higher today, thanks to persistent buying support in the index-linked counters amid positive market sentiment, dealers said.
Despite the mixed performance of its regional peers, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 20.7 points to 1,590.78 after moving between 1,558.71 and 1,592.28 throughout the day.
A dealer said risk appetite in the market was lifted by the lower palm oil stock, improving crude oil prices, and growing optimism over COVID-19 vaccines.
The overall market breadth on Bursa was positive with gainers trouncing losers 779 to 466, while 383 counters were unchanged, 529 untraded and 27 others suspended.
Total volume widened to 16.56 billion units worth RM5.88 bil from 14.53 billion units worth RM5.96 bil yesterday.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose 11 sen to RM7.80, Public Bank climbed 24 sen to RM17.92, Tenaga increased 14 sen to RM11.48, and Petronas Chemicals soared 28 sen to RM6.83.
Most of the key regional markets were on a downtrend as profit taking emerged and as vaccine rally faded, which also led to Top Glove declining 16 sen to RM7.70 and Hartalega sliding 14 sen to RM15.36. – Nov 12, 2020
