KL shares close 1.23 per cent higher

Published: 2009/07/22

SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia ended higher today, led by gains on Wall Street overnight. Dealers said investors' focus was on plantation related stocks.The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) jumped 14.0 points to close at 1,148.70 after opening 2.47 points higher at 1,137.17.

The benchmark index had soared to an intra-day high of 1,160.61, boosted by active buying momentum in bluechip counters.A dealer said the FBM KLCI was expected to touch the 1,165-point level this week on expectations that global markets would bottom out.

"The bullish market trend is expected to continue given the improved sentiment," he added.The Finance Index rose 77.08 points to 9,333.88, the Plantation Index advanced 84.77 points to 5,602.0 and the Industrial Index was 29.49 points higher at 2,483.53.

The FBMEmas Index increased 62.97 points to 7,706.4, the FBM Top 100 advanced 70.07 points to 7,515.10, the FBMMesdaq Index gained 25.74 points to 4,028.78 and the FBM2BRD Index rose 27.60 points to 4,901.82. Advancers led decliners by 327 to 290 while 258 counters were unchanged, 355 untraded and 33 others suspended. Total volume increased to 1.111 billion shares valued at RM1.842 billion from 912.362 million shares worth RM1.490 billion yesterday. - Bernama