Malaysia: Shares end half-day trading On positive

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the half-day trading on a positive note today on bargain hunting, with interest seen in banking stocks, dealers said. The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed today\'s trading higher by 2.46 points or 0.17 per cent at 1,447.27 after opening 3.40 points higher at 1,448.21. The major contributing stocks to the index were Petronas Chemicals and MISC, gaining 19 sen each to RM6.22 and RM6.97, respectively, Maybank rose five sen to RM8.72 and CIMB was three sen higher at RM7.07. A dealer said despite the positive market, trading was light as most market players remained on the sidelines amid the long Hari Raya and Merdeka Day celebations. The market will be closed for three days from tomorrow and reopen on Friday. Dealers said the local market also gained along with its regional peers following positive leads from the US bourse on Friday, adding that interest in recent beaten-down stocks further boosted market sentiments. On Bursa Malaysia, the Finance Index jumped 85.03 points to 13,669.59 and the Industrial Index gained 8.07 points to 2,691.84. The Plantation Index fell 22.02 points to 7,218.89. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Emas Index advanced 37.09 points to 9,908.81, the Mid 70 Index surged 99.89 points to 10,811.79 and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Ace Index closed 36.78 points higher at 3,742.21. Trading volume was thin at 447.13 million shares worth RM893.58 million compared with 966.74 million shares worth RM2.27 billion on Friday. Advancers led decliners by 432 to 214 while 221 counters were unchanged. A dealer said actively traded stocks were Petronas Chemicals and CIMB as investors sought bargains after their recent losses offered attractive valuations. Other actives include YTL Land-Call Warrant, which rose half sen to 1.5 sen, while E&O gained four sen to RM1.49 after Sime Darby\'s announcement to acquire 30 per cent strategic stake in the company at RM2.30 per share. Among heavyweights, Maybank added five sen to RM8.72; Sime Darby lost one sen to RM8.79; Maxis fell six sen to RM5.31; and Axiata was unchanged at RM4.72. The Main Market volume declined to 338.93 million shares worth RM877.57 million from Friday\'s 786.17 million shares valued at RM2.25 billion. Turnover on the ACE Market slipped to 61.84 million shares valued at RM9.87 million from 106.03 million units worth RM12.51 million last week. Warrants were also lower at 42.3 million units worth RM2.34 million compared to 69.77 million units valued at RM4.06 million last week. Consumer products accounted for 16.79 million shares traded on the Main Market; industrial products 83.12 million; construction 17.74 million; trade and services 98.99 million; technology 8.64 million; infrastructure 4.02 million; finance 35.21 million; hotels 217,800; properties 53.75 million; plantations 15.6 million; mining nil; REITs 4.67 million; and closed/fund nil.