KUALA LUMPUR (March 2): CIMB led the FBM KLCI to a higher close, just 11 points away from the all-time high of 1,594.74 in July 2011, as the firmer blue chips galvanised market sentiment.
At the close, the KLCI was up 10.33 points or 0.66% to 1,583.78. Turnover was 1.63 billion shares valued at RM1.93 billion. Advancing counters beat decliners 540 to 276 while 330 counters were unchanged.
Reuters reported European shares edged up to their highest level in more than a week on Friday, with the European Central Bank's ultra-cheap funding this week helping the euro zone debt market and further reducing risk within the battered banking sector.
Financials were among the top gainers, with the STOXX Europe 600 Banking index rising 0.6 percent and Commerzbank advancing 3%. The index, which was the worst performer in 2011 with a 32% drop, has gained about 19% so far this year.
Among the key regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.72% to 9,777.03, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.81% to 21,562.26, Shanghai’s Composite Index added 1.43% to 2,460.69 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index 0.49% higher at 2,993.49.
BAT was the top gainer, adding 40 sen to RM53.50. Its fourth interim dividend of 66 sen per share tax exempt will go ex on Tuesday.
CIMB rose 16 sen to RM7.33, pushing the index up 2.82 points after the banking group moved closer to expand its regional reach by acquiring certain assets of The Royal Bank of Scotland in Asia Pacific.
AMMB added nine sen to RM6.26 while Maybank and Public Bank rose two sen each to RM8.77 and RM13.70.
Petronas Chemical added 15 sen to RM6.90, Genting 14 sen to RM10.60 while DiGi and YTL advanced eight sen each to RM4.12 and RM1.78.
KHSB was the most active counter with 76 million shares done, adding 6.5 sen to 62.5 sen.
Silver Bird was unchanged at 20.5 sen as the price could have bottomed out after being sold down on Thursday where it lost nearly half its value.
China Stationery Ltd saw its share price slipping three sen to RM1.8 as investors took profit following its listing on Feb 24 at the offer price of 95 sen.
Among the decliners, PPB fell 34 sen to RM16.94, Dutch Lady 22 sen to RM29.50, Ta Ann 20 sen to RM5.71 and Hartalega 19 sen to RM8.13.
At the close, the KLCI was up 10.33 points or 0.66% to 1,583.78. Turnover was 1.63 billion shares valued at RM1.93 billion. Advancing counters beat decliners 540 to 276 while 330 counters were unchanged.
Reuters reported European shares edged up to their highest level in more than a week on Friday, with the European Central Bank's ultra-cheap funding this week helping the euro zone debt market and further reducing risk within the battered banking sector.
Financials were among the top gainers, with the STOXX Europe 600 Banking index rising 0.6 percent and Commerzbank advancing 3%. The index, which was the worst performer in 2011 with a 32% drop, has gained about 19% so far this year.
Among the key regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.72% to 9,777.03, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.81% to 21,562.26, Shanghai’s Composite Index added 1.43% to 2,460.69 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index 0.49% higher at 2,993.49.
BAT was the top gainer, adding 40 sen to RM53.50. Its fourth interim dividend of 66 sen per share tax exempt will go ex on Tuesday.
CIMB rose 16 sen to RM7.33, pushing the index up 2.82 points after the banking group moved closer to expand its regional reach by acquiring certain assets of The Royal Bank of Scotland in Asia Pacific.
AMMB added nine sen to RM6.26 while Maybank and Public Bank rose two sen each to RM8.77 and RM13.70.
Petronas Chemical added 15 sen to RM6.90, Genting 14 sen to RM10.60 while DiGi and YTL advanced eight sen each to RM4.12 and RM1.78.
KHSB was the most active counter with 76 million shares done, adding 6.5 sen to 62.5 sen.
Silver Bird was unchanged at 20.5 sen as the price could have bottomed out after being sold down on Thursday where it lost nearly half its value.
China Stationery Ltd saw its share price slipping three sen to RM1.8 as investors took profit following its listing on Feb 24 at the offer price of 95 sen.
Among the decliners, PPB fell 34 sen to RM16.94, Dutch Lady 22 sen to RM29.50, Ta Ann 20 sen to RM5.71 and Hartalega 19 sen to RM8.13.
