KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended the week on a positive note, extending its winning streak to four consecutive sessions as buying interest in selected heavyweight stocks helped sustain the market's recovery.
The benchmark index rose 3.42 points, or 0.21%, to close at 1,611.56 on Friday.
Week-on-week, the index gained 3.80 points, or 0.24%, from 1,607.76 last Friday.
Trading sentiment was evenly balanced, with 528 gainers and 529 losers, while 532 counters were unchanged. Turnover stood at 3.18 billion shares worth RM2.47bil.
Dealers said sustained buying interest in selected heavyweight stocks helped extend the market's winning streak, although investors remained cautious amid a lack of fresh catalysts.
They said further gains would depend on stronger buying momentum and fresh positive leads.
Nestle led the gainers, rising 58 sen to RM89.54, followed by Carlsberg, which gained 36 sen to RM12.64, and Kuala Lumpur Kepong, up 22 sen to RM20.52.
Hong Leong Industries rose 18 sen to RM16.30, while Heineken added 16 sen to RM13.16.
Among the losers, Hong Leong Bank and Malaysian Pacific Industries
shed 30 sen each to RM21.20 and RM40, respectively.
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings declined 21 sen to RM6.73, while Genting Plantations lost 18 sen to RM5.11.
According to Bursa Malaysia data, foreign investors were net sellers of local equities worth RM98mil on Thursday.
Local institutions and retail investors were net buyers, purchasing RM86mil and RM12mil worth of equities, respectively.
Meanwhile, oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude hitting a more than five-month high as Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia heightened concerns over supply disruptions.
Brent crude rose 0.19% to US$113.39 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.58% to US$100.05 a barrel.
On the regional front, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan index rose 0.23%.
Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.34% to 62,693.16, while South Korea's Kospi gained 0.3% to 5,550.30.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng advanced 0.69% to 23,093.37, while Singapore's Straits Times Index edged up 0.03% to 5,416.76.
China's CSI300 climbed 1.71% to 4,105.33, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.89% to 3,690.48.
