KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI broke past the crucial 1,800 level in late afternoon trade on Wednesday and year-to-date, it is up 0.2%.
At 2.55pm, the KLCI was up 9.26 points to 1,800.35. Turnover was 1.78 billion shares valued at RM1.42bil. There were 512 gainers, 316 losers and 374 counters unchanged.
The stock market has pulled away from the selldown since the shock May 9 general election by the Pakatan Harapan coalition with all positive signs in place, especially with the foreign funds seen making a comeback.
Global funds raised their holdings of Malaysian government and corporate bonds and bills to RM189.8bil in July, first increase in four months, according to central bank data.
Ownership of sovereign bonds climbed 1.9% to RM168.3b in July from previous month, Bloomberg reported.
Among the KLCI stocks, Axiata rose 17 sen to RM4.51 and MAHB added 16 sen to RM9.51.
Far East was at a record high, up 90 sen to RM14.10, Vitrox added 27 sen to RM6.76, Hartalega 23 sen to RM6.40.
HL Industries gained 20 sen to RM11.46 and Hengyuan 15 sen to RM7.46.
MRCB was the most active, up four sen to 83.5 sen with 108 million shares done.
MY EG added two sen to RM1.21 and Frontken 3.5 sen to 67.5 sen.