KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended higher on Tuesday bolstered by the improving sentiment over the ongoing banking crisis and bargain-hunting.
At 5pm, the 30-stock index added 4.74 points, or 0.34% to 1,406.55. The index has risen to an intraday high of 1,412.81.
The market’s breadth returned to positive territory with more stocks recovering. Specifically, 483 counters ended higher, while 368 dropped lower. Turnover stood at 3.22 billion shares valued at RM1.85bil.
Dealers said investors' focus is on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision.
In terms of fund flows, local institutions and retailers were net buyers on Monday buying equities worth RM57mil and RM32mil respectively.
Foreigners emerged as net sellers with total disposal valued at RM89mil.
On Bursa Malaysia, Nestle rose 60 sen to RM134.50, F&N added 56 sen to RM25.66, PETRONAS Dagangan gained 42 sen to RM20.78 and Ajinomoto climbed 30 sen to RM14.60.
Among the losers, CI Holdings
slid 27 sen to RM3.39, Kotra eased 18 sen to RM5.52, Chin Teck Plantations fell 18 sen to RM8.40 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong lost 18 sen to RM20.82.
Around the region, MSCI Asia ex-Japan rose 0.93%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 1.42% lower at 26,945.67 while South Korea’s Kospi added 0.38% at 2,388.35.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 1.36%, at 19,258.76.
CSI300 index gained 1.1% to 3,982.38, while the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.64% at 3,255.65 points.
