Tuesday, May 31, 2011

FBM KLCI stays shy of 1,550-level at mid-day break

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI stayed in positive territory at the mid-day break on Tuesday, May 31 but struggled to remain above the 1,550-point level.

At 12.30pm, the 30-stock index was up 0.46% or 7.13 points to 1,549.97, lifted by gains at select blue chips including Tenaga, Petronas Gas, MISC, and banking stocks.

The index had earlier risen to its intra-morning high of 1,551.97.

Gainers trailed losers by 263 to 370, while 307 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 482.77 million shares valued at RM1.25 billion.

The ringgit strengthened 0.02% to 3.0180 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery rose RM2 per tonne to RM3,410, crude oil gained 47 cents per barrel to US$101.06 while gold added 80 cents an ounce to US$1,537.95.

At the regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.54% to 9,651.78, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.92% to 23,398.25, South Korea's Kospi was up 1.55% to 2,126.21, Taiwan's Taiex gained 1.46% to 8,952.81 and Singapore's Straits Times Index edged up 0.28% to 3,149.45.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.13% to 2,702.86.

Malayan Flour Mills extended its gains at mid-day after the company had yesterday proposed the declaration and payment of special gross dividend of 62 sen per subdivided to its shareholders.

The stock was up 64 sen to RM8.30.

Tenaga was actively traded and rose 56 sen to RM7.08 with 53.9 million shares done after it received the official nod to hike tariff rates from June 1.

Other gainers included MMHE that rose 48 sen to RM7.95, MAHB 44 sen to RM7, Petronas Gas 30 sen to RM11.74, F&N 20 sen to RM19.40, MISC six sen to RM6.89 and Petronas Chemicals four sen to RM7.15.

Among banks, CIMB added six sen to RM8.32, Hong Leong Bank and HLFG rose four sen each to RM12.04 and RM11.66, while RHB Capital gained three sen to RM9.31.

Decliners this morning included Tradewinds, BAT, Cepco, Esso, Panasonic, Perstima, DiGi and PPB.

Actively traded stocks included UEM Land, Jotech, Berjaya Corp, MAS, Hubline and HWGB.

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