Steady KLCI ends higher 11 June 2009

Bursa Malaysia closed higher on Thursday, tracking the generally steadier Asian performance on optimism that the global economy was healing and firming black commodity amid bright outlook after the International Energy Agency (IEA) raised its forecast for oil demand. Bloomberg reported that IEA increased its global estimate for daily oil demand by 120,000 barrels to 83.3 million barrels in its monthly report.

At 5pm, the benchmark KLCI gained 5.99 points, or 0.55% to 1,088.96 with oil and gas-related stocks top the most active list.
In the region, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.10% to 9,981.33 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.03% to 18,791.03.
Shanghai’s A share index dropped 0.67% to 2,797.32, Seoul’s Kospi Index advanced 0.32% to 1,419.39 while Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 0.37% lower at 2,382.30.

At Bursa Malaysia, 441 counters were up , 280 were down and 237 others were trade unchanged. There were 2.16 billion shares traded with a total value of RM1.99 billion.

Among gainers, BAT climbed 75 sen to RM44.75, DIGI gained 40 sen to RM22.20, UMW added 30 sen to RM5.90, Lafarge Malayan Cement was 30 sen higher at RM5.75 and Puncak rose 23 sen to RM3.18.

Plantation stocks, United Plantations added 10 sen to RM12.90 while KL Kepong and Sime were unchanged at RM12.00 and RM7.05 respectively.
Oil and gas counters, SAAG added 0.5 sen to 37 sen, KNM lost 1 sen to RM1.04, Scomi rose 2 sen to RM79 sen and Perisai gained 6 sen to RM7.00.

Kulim fell 15 sen to RM6.40, Genting dropped 15 sen to RM5.90 and Parkson was 12 sen lower at RM4.78.

Crude palm oil was RM6 lower at RM2,495 per tonne.
Nymex crude oil added 44 cents to US$71.77 per barrel.
The ringgit was quoted at 3.509 to the US dollar.