Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia snapped a three-day pullback to close 0.18 percent higher on Thursday, driven by a surge in global oil prices that bolstered Malaysia's energy-related companies. Investors also showed interest in utilities as they sought defensive earnings amid ongoing global uncertainties.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 3.22 points to 1,714.59 from Wednesday's close of 1,711.37. The benchmark index opened 3.01 points higher at 1,714.38, fluctuating between 1,709.05 and 1,716.43 throughout the trading day.

The broader market saw 599 decliners outnumbering 415 advancers, with 600 counters remaining unchanged. A total of 1,138 were left untraded, and 23 were suspended. Turnover narrowed to 3.19 billion units valued at RM2.27 billion from 3.43 billion units valued at RM2.50 billion on the previous day.

IPPFA Sdn Bhd's director and country economist, Mohd Sedek Jantan, noted that the FBM KLCI edged slightly higher due to buying interest in oil and gas and utilities stocks, offsetting weakness in selected large-cap counters. This movement reflects a gradual improvement in market sentiment.

Berjaya Research Sdn Bhd's head of research, Kenneth Leong, anticipates the FBM KLCI entering a consolidation phase following its recent rebound. Investors are expected to adopt a more cautious stance amidst lingering external uncertainties. He highlighted the impact of geopolitical developments in West Asia on crude oil prices and the ongoing US corporate earnings season as factors shaping near-term sentiment.

Among heavyweight stocks, Maybank fell eight sen to RM10.86, while Public Bank gained two sen to RM5.17. Tenaga Nasional increased by 22 sen to RM14.50, CIMB rose seven sen to RM7.73, and IHH Healthcare added six sen to RM8.39.

Active stocks included AIMAX and Zetrix AI, both dropping half-a-sen to one sen and 71 sen, respectively. Tanco lost 3.5 sen to 27 sen, VS Industry slid one sen to 25 sen, and Pegasus Heights remained flat at half a sen.

Top gainers included Panasonic Manufacturing, which rose 33 sen to RM5.99, and Ornapaper, which increased by 22.5 sen to 87.5 sen. Sarawak Plantation gained 17 sen to RM4.49, while Sunway Construction and UMS Integration added 15 sen each to RM7.73 and RM8.05, respectively.

Decliners were led by Malaysian Pacific, which fell RM1.58 to RM46.18, and United Plantations, which dipped 94 sen to RM33.10. Nestle slipped 32 sen to RM91.20, Kuala Lumpur Kepong shed 26 sen to RM20.66, and Malayan Cement lost 19 sen to RM6.14.

In the broader indices, the FBM Emas Index rose by 1.77 points to 12,657.73, and the FBM Top 100 Index advanced 1.89 points to 12,481.86. The FBM ACE Index improved by 8.06 points to 4,969.08. However, the FBM Emas Shariah Index shed 1.41 points to 12,496.28, and the FBM Mid 70 Index decreased by 89.46 points to 17,867.35.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index increased by 3.60 points to 20,210.71, and the Industrial Products and Services Index rose by 0.40 of a point to 188.76. Conversely, the Plantation Index tumbled 80.97 points to 9,240.27, and the Energy Index dropped by 0.27 of a point to 774.14.

Main Market volume declined to 1.84 billion units valued at RM2.02 billion, compared to 1.94 billion units valued at RM2.22 billion on Wednesday. Warrants turnover slipped to 902.43 million units worth RM117.01 million, down from 970.20 million units worth RM130.98 million previously. The ACE Market volume shrank to 449.60 million units valued at RM132.47 million from 520.43 million units valued at RM151.15 million on the previous day.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 150.63 million shares traded on the Main Market, with industrial products and services seeing 334.27 million. Construction recorded 99.95 million, technology 596.67 million, financial services 54.03 million, property 276.35 million, and plantation 34.67 million. Real estate investment trusts accounted for 23.58 million, closed-end fund 313,900, energy 131.27 million, healthcare 47.96 million, telecommunications and media 21.32 million, transportation and logistics 42.39 million, utilities 27.56 million, and business trusts 41.700 million.