KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended higher on Thursday amid firmer regional markets, as the ringgit strengthened following Bank Negara’s decision to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged at 2.75%.
The FBM KLCI rose 11.33 points, or 0.66%, to 1,717.14 after touching an intraday high of 1,717.66 and a low of 1,711.29.
Gainers outpaced losers 622 to 425, while 589 counters were unchanged. About 2.82 billion shares, valued at RM3.41bil, changed hands.
Dealers said buying interest was supported by Bank Negara’s decision to keep the OPR unchanged, which helped underpin sentiment alongside firmer regional markets.
They added that a stronger ringgit and continued foreign institutional buying also lent support to blue-chip stocks.
Among the gainers, Nestle jumped RM1.40 to RM117, Allianz gained RM1.08 to RM22.66, Alien-PA added RM1.08 to RM22.96 and Carlsberg climbed 44 sen to RM17.80.
In contrast, F&N slid 16 sen to RM36, Atlan fell 13 sen to RM2.72, PETRONAS Gas lost 10 sen to RM18.70 and Solarvest declined nine sen to RM2.81.
Newly listed Guan Huat Seng closed down 0.5 sen, or 2%, to 24.5 sen with 31.25 million shares traded.
Meanwhile, the local currency rose to its highest level in about four weeks, gaining 0.23% against the US dollar to 4.0375. It also advanced 0.25% against the Singapore dollar to 3.1444.
In terms of fund flows, foreign funds and local institutions were net buyers on Wednesday, acquiring equities worth RM215 mil and RM203 mil, respectively.
Local retailers emerged as net sellers, disposing of equities worth RM418 mil.
On the external front, MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan stock index was higher by 0.79%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 1.73% to 53,688.89 while South Korea’s Kospi closed up 0.87% at 4,952.53.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 0.17% higher at 26,629.96.
China’s CSI300 index added 0.014% to 4,723.71 while the Shanghai Composite eased 0.14% to 4,122.58
