KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI crossed the 1,600 mark after three straight gains, while the ringgit strengthened to RM4.2035 amid regional markets hitting record highs.
At closing, the 30-stock index added 4.98 points, or 0.31%, to 1,602.45, its highest since February, after touching an intraday peak of 1,609.65.
There were 519 gainers, 580 losers and 464 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. Turnover stood at 2.9 billion shares valued at RM3.17bil.
On Bursa Malaysia, Malaysian Pacific Industries
led the gainers, jumping RM1.98 to RM27. Nestle climbed RM1.86 to RM93, United Plantations rose 34 sen to RM22.34, while UWC added 21 sen to RM2.92.
Among the decliners, Petronas Chemicals slipped 27 sen to RM4.55, APM eased 20 sen to RM3.18, MBM Resources fell 17 sen to RM4.98, while PPB Group shed 16 sen to RM8.61.
Magma was the most active counter on Bursa Malaysia, plunging 30.65% or 9.5 sen to 21.5 sen, with 124.18 million shares changing hands.
The hospitality and property development firm has clarified in a statement that its group executive chairman, Datuk Sri Lee Hock Seng, is assisting an investigation by the authorities into the MBI scandal.
The group said the matter is not related to or involves the business or operations of Magma or any of its subsidiaries.
Meanwhile, the ringgit jumped 0.56% to 4.2035 against the US dollar, its biggest intraday gain in about three weeks.
Asian markets rallied, with MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan index up 1.48% as regional benchmarks hit new highs.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 0.41% to 42,807.82 while South Korea’s Kospi closed up 1.3% at 3,209.86.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up 1.9% to 25,829.91, reaching the highest level since October 2021.
Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite climbed 1.5% to 3,883.56, its highest since August 2015 and marking a new decade high.
The blue-chip CSI300 advanced 2.1% to 4,469.22, its strongest level since July 2022.