Public Bank, Maybank power KLCI to 17-month high

The KLCI was the top performer among the key Asian markets as investors viewed banks as the proxy in the economic recovery next year.

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank and Maybank helped power the FBM KLCI to the highest since mid-July last year at midday on Friday as investors piled into banking stocks.

At 12.30pm, the KLCI was up 30.16 points or 1.82% to 1,684.55 and year-to-date it is up by 6.13%. Turnover was 6.04 billion shares valued at RM3.30bil. The broader market was mixed with 594 gainer, 597 loser and 446 counters.