KL shares extend last week's gains

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia opened higher at the opening bell Monday, extending last week's gains on continued buying interest, dealers said.

At 9.05am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) index remained the same as at the opening 1,851.67 points, up by 0.94 of a point.

HwangDBS Vickers Research said that for this week, the key FBM KLCI may pause for a breather first after jumping 33.3 points or 1.8 per cent in seven straight days.

"Still, possible window-dressing activities on the last trading day of the first quarter is set to hold up our local bourse performance, with the benchmark FBM KLCI likely to stay above the immediate support level of 1,840.

"Sentiments could also get a lift by positive external vibes. On the back of better economic optimism, major US equity indices were up between 0.1 and 0.5 per cent last Friday," the research house said in a note.

Gainers outpaced losers 141 to 49, while 156 counters were unchanged, 1,278 untraded and 30 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 95.24 million shares worth RM43.37 million.

On the scoreboard, the Industrial Index earned 0.57 of a point to 3,205.2, the Finance Index rose 17.71 points to 16,626.35 and the Plantation Index added 21.75 points to 9,059.88.

The FBM Emas Index advanced 10.11 points to 12,798.03, the FBMT100 Index increased 8.83 points to 12,459.09, the FBM Ace rose 26.28 points to 6,724.92 and the FBM 70 gained 19.73 points to 13,931.96.

Among actives, Insas went up seven sen to RM1.28, Privasia Technology earned half-a-sen to 11 sen, while Malaysia Airlines and Ingenuity Consolidated were flat at 20.5 sen and 10 sen, respectively.

As for heavyweights, Maybank, TNB and Axiata were flat at RM9.66, RM11.98 and RM6.66, respectively, while CIMB added two sen to RM7.19.-