Monday, August 16, 2010

Stocks close at fresh 30-month high

KUALA LUMPUR:'' Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended higher Monday, Aug 16'' with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) at a new 30-month high, dealers said.

At 5pm, the benchmark index was up 10.43 points to 1,370.58 after opening 0.29 of a point lower at 1,359.86 in the morning. The 1,370 level was last seen in February 2008.

One of the dealers said the key index hit a fresh high due to the strong performance of Genting following the stronger-than-expected corporate results of Genting Singapore as well as Maybank.

Genting climbed 54 sen or 6.6 per cent to RM8.72 while Maybank edged up 22 sen to RM7.94.

However, overall trading was cautious as many traders remained on the sidelines ahead of the second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figures due to be announced on Wednesday.

"Apart from external uncertainties, we believe the announcement of second quarter GDP numbers on August 18 should determine the direction of the stock market in the coming weeks," MIMB Investment Bank said in a research note.

It added that if the second-quarter real GDP growth came below the consensus estimate of seven to eight per cent, the local bourse could probably see selling pressure emerging.

At close, Bursa Malaysia's Finance Index rose 126.46 points to 12,341.19, the INDUSTRIAL INDEX [] added 11.96 points to 2,663.17 and the PLANTATION [] Index gained 13.21 points to 6,511.55.

The FBM Emas Index edged up 62.56 points to 9,274.62, the FBM ACE Index increased 46.84 points to 3,860.10 and the FBM70 [] Index advanced 47.43 points to 9,242.13.

Gainers led losers by 404 to 320 while 261 counters were unchanged, 390 untraded and 32 others suspended.

However, volume was lower at 973.56 million shares worth RM1.36 billion compared to last Friday's 995.99 million shares worth RM1.36 billion.

Newly-listed Berjaya Retail, which was the most actively traded counter, gained half sen to 50.5 sen, TMC Life Sciences added 7.5 sen to 52.5 sen and Sinotop Holdings was one sen lower at 15 sen.

For heavyweights, CIMB rose two sen to RM7.33, Sime Darby went up three sen to RM7.65 and Maxis dropped two sen to RM5.28.

The Main Market volume fell to 849.237 million shares worth RM1.339 billion from 864.803 million shares worth RM1.336 billion last Friday.

Warrants declined to 74.038 million units valued at RM13.497 million from 83.328 million units valued at RM14.284 million previously. - Reuters


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