KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended higher for a sixth straight session on Wednesday, tracking stronger regional markets as easing fears over the Middle East conflict and lower oil prices boosted investor sentiment.
The 30-stock index closed 15.51 points, or 0.9%, higher at 1,748.17 after earlier climbing as much as 1% to an intraday high of 1,750.41 before trimming some gains.
There were 690 gainers, 487 losers and 587 counters traded unchanged on Bursa Malaysia. Trading activity was brisk, with 3.9 billion shares worth RM3.8bil changing hands.
Dealers expect the local bourse to remain firm, although gains may be moderate as investors assess the sustainability of the recent rally.
They added that the improving geopolitical developments in the Middle East and lower U.S. Treasury yields are also expected to help cushion downside risks.
Regional markets also traded broadly higher, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan Index rising 2.32%.
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 3.66% to 66,300.44, while South Korea's Kospi advanced 3.76% to 6,598.26.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.21% to 25,907.17 while Taiwan's TAIEX climbed 2.88% to 44,611.60.
Meanwhile, China's CSI300 Index added 1.24% to 4,658.16, while the Shanghai Composite Index advanced 1.47% to 3,878.43.
Back home, technology and semiconductor stocks maintained their upward momentum. Pentamaster rose 41 sen to RM5.70, ViTrox gained 35 sen to RM9.10, Malaysian Pacific Industries
added 22 sen to RM46.94, UMS Integration climbed 21 sen to RM7.88, while Inari advanced 20 sen to RM2.41.
Among the decliners, F&N slid 90 sen to RM26.92, Hong Leong Financial Group fell 18 sen to RM18.48, PETRONAS Dagangan shed 16 sen to RM19.54, and PETRONAS Chemicals lost 13 sen to RM4.52.
Meanwhile, the ringgit strengthened 0.05% against the US dollar to 4.0945 but inched down 0.08% against the Singapore dollar to 3.1940.
The local currency also weakened 0.22% against the euro to 4.7245 and edged 0.1% lower against the pound sterling at 5.5131.
