BURSA MALAYSIA: KL Shares End Firmer On Positive Sentiment

Sources: Bernama.com.my 16th July 2009KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended firmer Thursday with the key index up 1.06 percent, spurred on by the strong performance of major regional bourses and a better-than-expected Chinese economy.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI went up 11.64 points to close at 1,108.88 after trading at an intra-day high of 1,120.41. It had opened unchanged at 1,097.24.

The market saw heavy trading interest in lower liners and penny stocks which pushed the day's volume above 1.0 billion units.However, overall gains were limited as investors were seen locking in some profits.

The Finance Index climbed 69.87 points to 9,012.62, the Industrial Index went up 26.29 points to 2,423.31 and the Plantation Index advanced 23.14 points to 5,379.88.

The FBMEmas Index gained 75.58 points to 7,483.69, the FBM Top 100 firmed up 80.98 points to 7,280.29 and the FBM2BRD Index increased 40.72 points to 4,855.14.

The FBMMesdaq Index, was however, down 46.25 points at 4,030.12.

Advancers led decliners by 398 to 304 while 229 counters were unchanged, 326 untraded and 57 others suspended.

Overall trading volume stood at 1.666 billion shares worth RM2.139 billion, up from the 1.365 billion shares worth RM2.139 billion yesterday.

"The better than expected China's second quarter gross domestic product which expanded 7.9 percent, has helped to shore up investor sentiment,"a dealer said.

He added that the market action marks the end of correction and is ready to embark on a new turnaround.

Topping the actives, KNM Group edged up 1.5 sen to 85 sen while SAAG Consolidated eased half sen to 29 sen and Axiata Group advanced 15 sen to RM2.85.

Jaks Resources rose four sen to 90.5 sen and Talam was unchanged at 9.5 sen.

Among the heavyweights, PPB Group gained 50 sen to RM12.50, Malaysian Pacific Industries rose 20 sen to RM5.35 and AMMB Holdings rose 14 sen to RM3.80.

The Main Board volume went up to 1.398 billion shares worth RM2.076 billion compared with Wednesday's closing of 1.141 billion shares worth RM1.729 billion.

Turnover on the Second Board also increased to 95.502 million shares worth RM35.648 million from the 83.383 million shares worth RM35.725 million previously.

The Mesdaq volume rose slightly to 96.420 million shares worth RM13.654 million from 93.927 million shares worth RM14.511 million yesterday.

Warrants went up to 72.538 million shares worth RM11.887 million from 42.151 million shares worth RM6.507 million.



On a sectoral basis, consumer products accounted for 50.635 million shares traded on the Main Board, industrial products 303.357 million, construction 145.296 million, trade/services 472.862 million, technology 14.219 million, infrastructure 24.103 million, finance 92.461 million, hotels 8.129 million, properties 251.448 million, plantations 32.093 million, mining 87,000, REITs 3.054 million and closed/fund 88,000.