Stocks on Bursa Malaysia ended higher yesterday in line with regional bourses amid fresh buying on key heavyweights, but investors mostly remained cautious because of the lingering Euro-zone debt crisis. The FBM KLCI rose 27.38 points or 1.89% to close at 1,472.10 after opening 0.23 point lower at 1,444.49. Gainers led losers by 417 to 352 while 283 counters were unchanged. Turnover rose to 1.534 billion shares valued at RM2.024 billion from Tuesday’s 1.304 billion shares worth RM2.563.

Stocks on Bursa Malaysia closed higher yesterday buoyed by positive global sentiment which prompted investors to seek bargains among beaten-down stocks. The local bourse’s positive momentum was in tandem with major Asian markets amid hopes that Euro-zone leaders would unveil fresh measures to resolve the debt crisis. Sentiment was further lifted by a robust US Thanksgiving weekend retail sales, as well as, a firmer overnight close on Wall Street. The benchmark FBM KLCI ended 13.17 points or 0.92% higher at 1,444.72 supported by institutional buying of finance stocks, it opened 6.22 points higher at 1,437.77. Gainers beat losers by 471 to 273 while 272 counters were unchanged. Turnover reduced to 1.304 billion shares valued at RM1.563 from last Friday’s 1.577 billion shares worth RM1.098 billion.

Stocks on Bursa Malaysia closed sharply lower last Friday ahead of the long weekend break and bearish regional Asian markets. Bursa Malaysia was closed yesterday for the Awal Muharram holiday. With no progress seen in the resolution of the Euro-zone debt crisis, Asian shares sank as deepening sovereign debt in the Euro-zone threatened economic growth globally. Selling pressure emerged in key heavyweights such as MISC and Telekom Malaysia, pushing the FBM KLCI 16.44 points or 1.13% lower to close at 1,431.55, its lowest level since October 13, and week-to-week, the key index declined 22.85 points from 1,454.40 on previous Friday. Decliners led advancers by 463 to 298 while 256 counters were unchanged. Total weekly volume declined to 7.27 billion shares worth RM5.51 billion from 10.92 billion shares worth RM7.29 billion the previous week. 

Stocks on Bursa Malaysia rebounded to close higher yesterday, helped by gains in banking stocks. Asian markets, with the exception of Japan, also bounced back from their recent losses to close higher on bargain hunting. Cautious sentiment, however, remained on growing concern over the impact of the Euro-zone debt crisis and the weak China’s manufacturing activities against the backdrop of a poor global economic outlook. The FBM KLCI rose by 14.82 points or 1.03% to close at 1,447.99 after opening 1.26 points lower at 1,431.91. Advancers led decliners by 499 to 277 while 289 counters were unchanged. Turnover, however, fell to 1.499 billion shares worth RM1.077 billion from Wednesday’s 1.508 billion shares worth RM1.127 billion.