Wednesday 14 March 2012

KLCI closes sharply higher as regional markets end mixed

KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): the FBM KLCI rose sharply higher in late trade on Wednesday to stay firmly above the 1,570-point level, lifted by gains at select bue chips including Sime Darby, Axiata, Petronas Gas, PPB and BAT.

The 30-stock index closed 11.69 points higher at 1,575.71.

Meanwhile, Shanghai and Hong Kong shares reversed early gains to snap a four-session winning streak on Wednesday, dragged by China plays after Premier Wen Jiabao doused expectations for easing in the property sector at the close of China's annual parliamentary meeting, according to Reuters.

At the regional markets, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.63% to 2,391.23 and Hong kOng’s Hang Seng Index lost 0.15% to 21,307.89.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 1.53% higher at 10.050.52, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.99% to 2,045.08, and Taiwan’s Taiex gained 1.17% to 8,125.26 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index

CIMB Research in its Alpha Edge report on March 14 covering regional markets said last week’s resurgence of US and regional equity markets indicated that it was still not time for a major correction though markets should be close to one.

“Last night, the VIX (Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index) fell to a four-year low, showing signs of complacency among investors. We remain bearish on prospects for this year,” it said.

The research house said that over the past week, the KLCI had been drifting downwards. It is now holding just above the support trendline at 1,568 points.

“A sharp breakdown of this support would convince us that the uptrend since last November has already ended.

“Until that happens, we cannot discount another short upleg towards the 1,580-1,600 levels,” it said.

On Bursa Malaysia, the top gainer was BAT that rose RM1.18 to RM53.98, Petronas Gas gained 48 sen to RM16.98, Far East up 35 sen to RM7.60, Aeon 29 een to RM9.40, PPB 28 wen to RM16.98, Aeon Credit up 25 sen to RM8.35, GAB 24 sen to RM13.48, Shell 22 sen to RM10.22 while Sarawak Oil Palm added 20 sen to RM6.23, while Axiata added six sen to RM5.12 and Sime Darby gaind two sen to RM9.71.

Naim Indah Corp was the most actively traded counter with 117.8 million shares done. The stock fell 2.5 sen to 66 sen.

Other actives included CSL, YTL, Tiger Synergy, HWGB, Euro Holdings, Axiata, Sime Darby, Astral Supreme and Silber Bird.



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