KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended its gains for a third consecutive session on Friday, lifted by strong buying in technology and semiconductor stocks amid a broad-based rally across regional markets.
The benchmark index rose 4.5 points, or 0.26%, to 1,724.90. It traded within a 14.45-point range, between an intraday high of 1,730.12 and a low of 1,715.67.
The FBM KLCI gained 1.4% for the week and advanced 3.65% for the month.
Market breadth remained positive, with gainers outnumbering decliners 713 to 407, reflecting sustained buying interest across the broader market. About 3.1 billion shares, valued at RM3.57bil, changed hands.
Technology and semiconductor stocks led the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, with Malaysian Pacific Industries
jumping RM3 to RM46.
ViTrox gained 70 sen to RM8.70, UMS Integration rose 51 sen to RM7.35, Pentamaster added 29 sen to RM5.29, Frontken climbed 25 sen to RM5.21, KESM advanced 22 sen to RM4.17, while UWC gained 19 sen to RM6.35.
Among the decliners, Hong Leong Industries slid 28 sen to RM17.72, Allianz lost 20 sen to RM21.00, British American Tobacco eased 19 sen to RM4.78, while Kuala Lumpur Kepong shed 18 sen to RM21.02.
In terms of fund flows, foreign funds were net buyers on Thursday, purchasing RM76mil worth of equities, while local institutions were net sellers of RM76mil.
On the forex market, the ringgit strengthened 0.12% against the US dollar to 4.0855 but edged down 0.44% versus the Singapore dollar to 3.1861.
The local currency also weakened 0.31% against the euro to 4.7040 and edged 0.43% lower against the pound sterling at 5.4962.
Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan index rose 7.35%, with most major regional markets closing higher:
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 4.03% to 64,362.02;
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.099% to 25,884.43;
China’s CSI300 Index gained 0.85% to 4,588.20;
Taiwan’s Taiex jumped 7.98% to 43,119.75;
South Korea’s Kospi surged 17.9% to 6,595.45 and;
Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.63% to 5,637.60 points.
