Stocks close firm Friday; FBM KLCI + 0.32%

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) ended higher on Friday despite mild profit-taking activities pulled share prices flat in the midday trade.
The local bourse’s benchmark index rose 3.73 points or 0.32% to 1,155.88 at 5pm today while markets in the region remained in positive territory.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index advanced 1.79% to 2,529.43 and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.55% to 9,944.55. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.83% to 19,982.79 and Shanghai’s A share index surged 1.33% to 3,372.60. Taipei’s Taiex Index fell 0.11% to 6,973.28 while Seoul’s Kospi Index added 0.41% to 1,502.59.


At Bursa Malaysia, 399 counters were up, 247 counters were down and 248 counters were unchanged. There were 1.04 billion shares changed hands with a total value of RM1.57 billion. The Finance Index added 0.61% to 9413.32 points, the Plantation Index eased 0.85% to 5578.75 points and the Properties Index gained 0.40% to 737.92 points

Among top gainers, Ann Joo added 17 sen to RM2.40, Nestle and BAT gained 25 sen each to RM31.50 and RM45.00 respectively, PPB Group advanced 20 sen to RM13.60, Daiboci surged 31 sen to RM1.43 and Tomypak added 32.5 sen to RM1.03.
The actively traded stocks inluded, Talam added 0.5 sen to RM9.5 sen, UEM Land was 3 sen higher at RM1.70, Lion Corp fell 0.5 sen to RM49.5, Axiata down 2 sen to RM2.90 and Mulpha International gained 0.5 sen to 54.5. KNM rose 1 sen to 87 sen and SAAG was unchanged at 29 sen.
Among losers, Litrak plunged 63 sen to RM2.55, Warisan TC fell 37 sen to RM1.93, IOI Corp lost 12 sen to RM4.86, Dutch Lady dropped 10 sen to RM11.00 and Padini was 9 sen lower at RM2.43.

DIGI lost 10 sen to RM22.10 while Telekom rose 6 sen to RM3.04.
Among bank stocks, Maybank up 10 sen to RM6.50, BCHB gained 10 sen to RM10.20, Public Bank-foreign dropped 10 sen to RM10.20 and Multi-purpose Holdings rose 17 sen to RM1.68.

Losses were led by IOICORP as the stock came under heavy selling pressure on concerns over its plan to raise RM1.22 billion from shareholders.

United Plantations down 10 sen each to RM12.30, Sime Darby added 5 sen to RM7.95 and Chin Teck Plantations advanced 15 sen to RM7.15.
Tenaga lost 5 sen to RM8.15 and Bursa gained 15 sen to RM7.55.

Nymex crude oil increased 34 cents to US$67.50 per barrel.
Crude palm oil 3-month futures rose RM12 to RM2,112 per tonne. The ringgit was quoted at 3.532 to the US dollar.