KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia rose at the opening today, underpinned by higher Brent crude oil prices and growing United States stimulus prospects that may set a positive tone on the local front.
At 9.05am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was up 6.53 points to 1,579.86 from 1,573.33 at Friday’s close.
The index opened 1.34 points higher at 1,574.67.
Market breadth was positive, with gainers outpacing losers 306 to 158, while 285 counters were unchanged, 1,398 untraded and 12 suspended.
Total volume stood at 414.82 million units worth RM195.45 million.
The ringgit, too, opened higher versus the US dollar, extending yesterday’s gains on continued demand for the local note, on the back of surging crude prices.
At 9.02am, the local currency traded 60 basis points better at 4.0570/0630 against the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.0630/0680.
At the time of writing, Brent crude gained 0.48% to trade at US$60.85 (RM247) per barrel. – Bernama, February 9, 2021
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