Market Close KLCI higher in line with regional markets

by **Cals** Sat 16 Aug 2014, 00:39

Market Close KLCI higher in line with regional markets

Business & Markets 2014

Written by Ahmad Naqib Idris Adzman Shah of theedgemalaysia.com

Friday, 15 August 2014 17:37

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): The FBM KLCI rose 0.15% in volatile trade as regional markets advanced. World markets rose as easing political conflicts in Russia and Ukraine improved investor sentiment.

In Malaysia, the KLCI gained 2.73 points to close at 1,864.31 at 5pm.

A remisier said the KLCI rose in line with regional markets, while positive futures indications from the US' Dow Jones Industrial Average also played a part.

In Malaysia, he said small and medium capitalised stocks made up the bulk of the trade volume today.

“There has been more interest in small and medium caps compared to blue chips for the past week,” he told theedgemalaysia.com.

He said newly-listed Reach Energy Bhd shares and warrants made up about a quarter of total trade volume.

Bursa Malaysia saw 3.41 billion shares valued at RM2.34 billion traded today. Decliners slightly edged gainers at 439 versus 407, while 336 counters were unchanged.

British American Tobacco (M) Bhd led gainers while Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd topped decliners.

Reach Energy shares and warrants were the most-active counters on the exchange.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.02% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.62%.

According to Reuters, Asian shares pulled higher on Friday, on track for a winning week, while the euro remained close to nine-month lows after downbeat data raised expectations of more European Central Bank easing steps.

Conciliatory comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday soothed some fears, although investors warily monitored the situation on Ukraine border. Dozens of heavy Russian military vehicles massed there as Moscow and Kiev struggled to agree on border crossing procedures for humanitarian aid.