Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index started the week on a positive note despite Wall Street’s mixed performance on Friday and softer performance in most regional markets. At 9.06 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 2.56 points to 1,628.23 from Friday’s close of 1,625.67, after opening 1.80 points higher at 1,627.47.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the broader market, there were 147 gainers and 145 decliners, while 265 counters were unchanged, 2,181 remained untraded, and 11 were suspended. Turnover stood at 114.90 million shares valued at RM92.65 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd noted in a research report that buying interest is accumulating in the finance sector, buoyed by the strengthening ringgit, which may potentially uplift the key index.

Among heavyweights, Maybank gained two sen to RM9.95, CIMB added a sen to RM7.54, TNB went up six sen to RM13.48, while IHH Healthcare was three sen higher at RM8.30. CelcomDigi and SD Guthrie remained flat at RM3.62 and RM5.38, respectively, whereas Public Bank and Press Metal shed a sen each to RM4.28 and RM6.42, respectively.

On the most active list, Tanco and Perak Transit both edged up half-a-sen to 96 sen and 27 sen, respectively. Icents increased a sen to 44 sen, Insights Analytics bagged two sen to 92 sen, Tan Chong expanded by three sen to 72.5 sen. On the other hand, Pegasus Heights was flat at half-a-sen, MMAG declined half-a-sen to seven sen, and Genting Malaysia fell a sen to RM2.36.

On the index board, the FBMT 100 Index appreciated 14.16 points to 11,837.22, the FBM Emas Index expanded by 14.76 points to 12,069.61, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index garnered 18.90 points to 12,078.07. The FBM ACE Index slumped 10.91 points to 4,972.85.

By sector, the Plantation Index inched up 0.93 of-a-point to 8,141.01, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.25 of-a-point to 167.24, the Financial Services Index strengthened 26.24 points to 18,457.58, and the Energy Index grew 0.51 of-a-point to 756.12.