Malaysian Stock Market Ends Marginally Higher

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysian stock market (Bursa Malaysia) ended marginally higher, prompted by scattered gains across the board, dealers said. The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended 1.3 points higher at 1,728.66 from 1,727.36 on Monday. The index opened 0.29 points higher at 1,727.65 and moved between 1,725.02 and 1,734.07 throughout the day. On the broader market, gainers led decliners 586 to 320, 357 counters were unchanged, 432 untraded and 14 others suspended. Volume rose to 3.37 billion units worth RM2.91 billion against last Monday's 3.01 billion units worth RM2.63 billion. FXTM Research Analyst Lukman Otunuga said global stocks were vulnerable to losses with investors on edge as the heightened geopolitical tensions in East Asia weighed on risk sentiment. "Asian shares traded mostly mixed amid the jitters, while risk aversion exposed European equities to downside shocks. "With the overall trading mood subdued and market participants treading cautiously, gains on Wall Street could be limited this evening," he added. On the home front, the FBM Emas Index rose 35.92 points to 12,208.08, the FBMT100 Index improved 33.17 points to 11,882.97, and the FBM Emas Syariah Index was up 52.16 points at 12,615.29. The FBM 70 surged 131.24 points to 14,231.36, while the FBM Ace was 21.68 points higher at 5,302.48. Sector-wise, the Plantation Index gained 65.68 points to 8,174.14, the Finance Index added 33.69 points to 15,521.27 and the Industrial Index trimmed 10.05 points to 3,252.62. -- BERNAMA