Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia continued its upward momentum, closing higher as positive market sentiment was bolstered by stronger-than-expected macroeconomic data and gains on Wall Street.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the bourse also benefited from firmer regional markets. After being closed for the Chinese New Year holidays on February 17 and 18, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 10.85 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,752.11 at the close, compared to Monday's close of 1,741.26. The index opened higher by 6.82 points at 1,748.08 and fluctuated between 1,755.08 and 1,743.63 throughout the session. The broader market was positive as gainers outnumbered losers 748 to 288, with 483 counters unchanged, 1,218 counters untraded, and 11 suspended. Turnover increased to 2.04 billion units worth RM2.52 billion, up from Monday's 1.81 billion units worth RM1.81 billion.

IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan noted that regional equity markets closed higher, reinforcing a constructive risk tone for the local benchmark index. He mentioned that major indices finished in positive territory due to broad-based buying interest. Banking stocks led the gainers on renewed risk appetite, while utilities counters lagged amid sector rotation. The energy index outperformed, advancing by over two percent, driven by a surge of more than seven percent in selected green energy stocks.

Mohd Sedek also commented on the United States markets ending higher in the previous session, driven by stronger-than-expected durable goods orders and industrial production. On the economic front, Malaysia's January consumer price index (CPI) data indicated steady headline inflation at 1.6 percent year-on-year, with core inflation unchanged at 2.3 percent. This was attributed to a balance of opposing price pressures, with declining transport and energy prices exerting a countervailing influence on the headline index.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank increased by 12 sen to RM12.06, Public Bank rose 10 sen to RM5.06, CIMB and IHH Healthcare added nine sen each to RM8.47 and RM8.91, respectively, while Tenaga Nasional fell 16 sen to RM14.26. On the active list, Zetrix AI decreased half a sen to 85.5 sen, while Tanco and Capital A advanced by one sen each to RM1.44 and 60.5 sen, respectively. Sime Darby climbed six sen to RM2.40, while 99 Speed Mart fell 23 sen to RM3.50.

Top gainers included Malaysian Pacific Industries, which climbed 80 sen to RM30.78, Allianz Malaysia, which grew 40 sen to RM22.66, and Petronas Dagangan, which added 38 sen to RM21. Other gainers were Hong Leong Financial and Kelington, which expanded 32 sen to RM22.32 and 31 sen to RM5.11, respectively.

In terms of decliners, besides 99 Speed Mart and Tenaga Nasional, Southern Acids slipped 17 sen to RM3.28, Dutch Lady Milk lost 14 sen to RM33.14, and Teo Guan Lee dipped seven sen to 83 sen. On the index board, the FBM Top 100 Index expanded 99.25 points to 12,678.47, while the FBM Emas Index increased by 103.92 points to 12,860.47. The FBM Mid 70 Index rose 233.21 points to 17,831.80, the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 94.69 points to 12,403.79, and the FBM ACE Index added 55.72 points to 4,828.51.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index rose by 206.68 points to 21,565.10, the Plantation Index grew 41.96 points to 8,402.31, the Energy Index increased by 19.29 points to 774.11, and the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 1.24 points to 178.50. The Main Market volume increased to 1.35 billion units worth RM2.37 billion from 1.15 billion units worth RM1.68 billion on Monday. Warrant turnover expanded to 467.07 million units worth RM53.90 million, up from 401.15 million units worth RM49.71 million previously. Meanwhile, the ACE Market volume decreased to 227.62 million units valued at RM97.82 million from 259.17 million units valued at RM80.65 million on Monday.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 224.63 million shares traded on the Main Market, with significant activity in industrial products and services, construction, technology, financial services, and property sectors.