Thursday, April 28, 2011

Blue chips keep FBM KLCI above 1,530-point level at mid-day

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI stayed above the 1,530-point level at the mid-day break on Thursday, April 28 in line with the gains at most key regional markets.

The FBM KLCI rose 3.82 points to 1,533.73 at the mid-day break, lifted by select blue chips.

Market breadth however turned slightly negative with losers leading gainers by 313 to 293, while 323 counters traded unchanged.

The ringgit strengthened 0.48% to 2.9645 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil added RM32 per tonne to RM3,309, crude oil rose 53 cents to US$113.29, while old eased US$1.47 to US$1,525.88.

Asian stocks mostly rose as investors bet that the easy US monetary policy will continue to drive money to riskier assets, according to Reuters.

The Bank of Japan is also expected to maintain its ultra-loose monetary policy later in the day and indicate its readiness to ease further if damage from last month's earthquake proves bigger than expected, it said.

With the two major central banks keeping interest rates near zero, investors are set to continue using the dollar and yen as funding currencies to buy higher-yielding assets, commodities and equities, said Reuters.

At the regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.22% to 9,809.75, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.50% to 24,013.43, Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 0.48% to 3,198.05, and South Korea's Kospi was up 0.09% to 2,208.72.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Taiex shed 0.18% to 9,032.59 and the Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.08% to 2,923.08.

On Bursa Malaysia, ''BAT was the top gainer this morning and rose 72 sen to RM48; DiGi was up 24 sen to RM29.06, F&N 20 sen to RM17.50, Hong Leong Bank 16 sen to RM10.50, HLFG 13 sen to RM9.65, KLK and PPB 12 sen each to RM21.02 and RM16.80, Wah Seong 11 sen to RM2.26 and MBSB 10 sen to RM2.60.

Focus Lumber which made its debut on the Main Market today was the most actively traded counter with 26.1 million shares done. The stock added 44 sen to RM1.04.

Other actives included Hubline, PLUS, Ancom Logistics, Unisem and E&O.

Decliners included LPI Capital, United PLANTATION []s, Aeon, Unisem, Hong Leong Industries, Tahps, BHIC, Coastal Contracts and SCGM.

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