KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI closed at its highest in almost two weeks on Tuesday ahead of Bank Negara’s overnight policy rate (OPR) decision tomorrow.
At 5pm, the 30-stock index rose 10.16 points, or 0.72% to 1,426.11, its highest since April 18. The index rose to its intraday high of 1,428.32 and low of 1,415.92.
Gainers led sellers by 433 to 403, while 397 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 2.9 billion shares, valued at RM1.53bil.
On Bursa Malaysia, F&N was the day's top gainer, rising 34 sen to RM26.86.
Other gainers included APB Resources
, which added 32 sen to RM1.51, PETRONAS Gas rose 32 sen to RM17.22 and Time Dotcom gained 20 sen to RM5.69.
Hextar Technologies, the top loser on Bursa Malaysia, slid 58 sen to RM22.82. Kuala Lumpur Kepong eased 40 sen to RM21.10, United Plantations fell 24 sen to RM15.32 and Padini declined 17 sen to RM3.88.
Hong Seng Consolidated was the most actively traded stock. The stock, which saw 265.14 million shares traded, slipped 0.5 sen to 12.5 sen.
Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 20 cents to US$75.46 and Brent lost 13 cents to US$79.18 per barrel.
Asia benchmark finished broadly higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 ended 0.12% higher at 29,157.95 while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.91% to 2,524.39.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.2% to 19,933.81. Chinese markets will be closed May 2 and May 3.
