KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia rebounded on Wednesday after yesterday’s dip on strong buying interest in healthcare stocks.

       At closing, the 30-stock index advanced 6.05%, or 0.39% to 1,547.95 after moving between 1,549.53 and 1,540.24.

       Market breadth was positive as gainers overpowered the losers on a ratio of 659-to-346 stocks. Traded volumes stood at 4.49 billion shares worth RM1.96bil.

       Bursa Malaysia's Healthcare Index added 43.54 points, or 1.93% to 2,297.27 amid concerns over the new Covid-19 variant IHU.

       Among the KLCI-component stocks, there were 17 gainers while 12 counters declined.

       Hartalega jumped 23 sen to RM5.75, Top Glove added 11 sen to RM2.44 and IHH Healthcare gained four sen to RM6.86.

       Among the banks, Maybank closed one sen lower at RM8.35, Public Bank added four sen to RM4.17, CIMB rose five sen to RM5.47, RHB Bank declined one sen to RM5.44 and Hong Leong Bank advanced 16 sen to RM19.12.

       Laggards among the KLCI component stocks were Nestle, Petronas Dagangan, Hong Leong Financial Group and Genting.

       On the broader market, Aeon Credit surged 60 sen to RM14.52, PMB Technology added 42 sen to RM12.62 and MPI rose 32 sen to RM50.

       Genetec fell 40 sen to RM40.50, KESM lost 30 sen to RM12.70 and Rapid declined 26 sen to RM9.40.

       Meanwhile, the ringgit was quoted at 4.1938, down 0.16% against the US dollar.

       Among the key regional markets:

       Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 0.1% to 29,332.16;

       Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.64% to 22,907.25;

       Shanghai Composite Index closed down 1.02% to 3,595.18;

       Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.14% to 18,499.96;

       South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.18% to 2,953.97 and;

       Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.73% to 3,157.94 points.