KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended higher on Monday, driven by buying interest in Genting, Petronas-linked and banking counters.

       At closing, the 30-stock index advanced 4.4 points, or 0.29% to 1,522.43. The market traded within a range of 5.33 points between an intra-day high of 1,524.86 and a low of 1,519.53 during the session.

       There were 567 gainers against 403 decliners while 440 counters closed unchanged. About 4.2 billion shares valued at RM2.14bil, changed hands.

       Among the KLCI component stocks, 16 counters closed higher while 12 counters fell.

       Dealers said overall market sentiment remained tepid as there were few domestic leads. They added that investors were closely watching the monetary policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

       Among the FBM KLCI component stocks, Genting Malaysia climbed nine sen to RM2.87, Genting rose eight sen to RM4.82, Petronas Dagangan gained eight sen to RM18.80, Press Metal advanced seven sen to RM4.95 and Petronas Chemicals added four sen to RM7.98.

       Maybank rose five sen to RM8.17, CIMB added four sen to RM4.68, RHB Bank gained three sen to RM5.34, Public Bank climbed two sen to RM3.94 and Hong Leong Bank rose six sen to RM18.40.

       On the broader market, F&N jumped 74 sen to RM26.74, MPI rose 60 sen to RM44.14 and Sam Engineering added 52 sen to RM13.12.

       Nestle, Advance Information Marketing, Computer Forms, Allianz, and Aeon Credit are among the top losers on Bursa Malaysia.

       Meanwhile, oil prices rose on Monday, recovering from a seven-day losing streak, Reuters reported.

       Brent crude climbed US$1.23, or 1.9%, to US$66.41 a barrel by 0701 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for October delivery rose US$1.13, or 1.8%, to US$63.27 a barrel.

       Elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 1.78%, South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.97%, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.5% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed up 1.05%.