KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended higher on Wednesday led by bargain hunting as value emerged from recent falls.

       The benchmark index closed up 14.12 points, or 0.89% to 1,593.75. It has risen to an intraday high of 1,597.07.

       There were 573 gainers, 386 losers and 411 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. Turnover stood at 3.11 billion shares valued at RM2.6bil.

       In terms of fund flows, local institutions and retailers were net buyers on Monday acquiring equities worth RM73mil and RM2mil respectively.

       Foreigners sold equities worth RM75mil on Tuesday.

       Kuala Lumpur Kepong leads the gainers’ list on Bursa Malaysia, surging RM1.12 to RM28.02. Batu Kawan gained 76 sen to RM27.48, Petronas Dagangan rose 70 sen to RM21.90 and PMB Technology advanced 44 sen to RM18.94.

       F&N tumbled 72 sen to RM22.08, Ajinomoto fell 26 sen to RM14.50 and Telekom Malaysia eased 17 sen to RM4.83.

       Meanwhile, US light crude oil rose US$1.10 to US$103.66 and Brent added US$1.08 to US$108.33 per barrel.

       Asian bourses closed broadly lower today, with Japan's Nikkei 225 closed up 0.86%, South Korea’s Kospi closed flat at 2,718.69, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.4% and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 1.4%.