KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended higher, lifted by the buying pressure in financials heavyweights, despite Wall Street's mixed performance.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed at 1,625.57 , up 13.63 points or 0.85 per cent, bounced off from Tuesday's weak close at 1,611.94.
The key index opened 1.39 points higher at 1,613.33 and moved between 1,611.60 and 1,627.94 throughout the day.
On the broader market, however, losers led gainers 602 to 479 while 495 counters traded unchanged, 873 untraded, and 54 others suspended.
Turnover was at 4.42 billion shares worth RM3.62 billion.
Malacca Securities said the FBM KLCI ended higher lifted by the buying pressure in financials heavyweights, namely CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank).
The research firm noted that the key index bounced off Tuesday's weak close, despite the mixed US overnight performance as investors stayed cautios ahead of major earnings this week.
CIMB was among top actives today as the stock closed 3.1 per cent or 22 sen higher at RM7.43 where 28.4 million shares changed hands.
The company's market capitalisation stood at RM79.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Maybank's price closed at RM10.22, up 1.4 per cent or 14 sen, valuing the bank at RM123.3 billion.
"On the broader market, the financial Services sector (+1.21 per cent) was the best performing sector led by CIMB and Maybank, while the technology sector (-1.18 per cent) declined the most," Malacca Securities said.