KL shares extend gains at opening

KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened higher Friday, extending yesterday's gains, as the European Central Bank (ECB) revealed its stimulus expansion plan which included buying 1.1 trillion euros worth of bonds, dealers said. At 9.03 am, the key index stood at 1,798.78, up 17.03 points, after opening 10.72 points better at 1,792.47. Market breadth was positive with gainers outpacing decliners 236 to 46 while 123 counters were unchanged, 1,329 untraded and seven others suspended. Turnover stood at 133.22 million shares worth RM67.99 million. On other scoreboards, the FBM Emas Index rose 67.07 points to 12,351.86, the FBMT100 Index gained 104.27 points to 12,084.79 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 62.57 points to 12,902.83. The FBM 70 perked 76.77 points to 13,446.16 while the FBM Ace added 21.53 points to 6,340.93. On a sectorial basis, the Industrial Index declined 13.72 points to 3,248.43, the Plantation Index contracted 21.19 points to 7,900.13 but the Finance Index rose 91.53 points to 15,660.9 . Among actives, Nova MSC, Sanichi and The Media Shoppe were all flat at 16 sen, 10 sen and six sen, respectively.

Daya Materials went up half-a-sen to 17 sen and KNM Group increased two sen to 60.5 sen. Of heavyweights, Maybank gained eight sen to RM8.95, TNB went up 52 sen to RM15.04, Public Bank advanced 30 sen to RM18.14, Axiata garnered five sen to RM7.20 and Sime Darby was up six sen at RM9.58. - Bernama