KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended the day in positive territory in sync with regional markets, supported by continuous buying in the banking and Petronas-linked stocks.

       At 5pm, the 30-stocks index rose 18.2 points, or 1.16% to 1,580.53. The index traded within a range of 13.5 points between an intra-day high of 1,581.27 and a low of 1,567.77 during the session.

       There were 608 gainers, 421 losers and 382 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. Turnover stood at 3.08 billion shares valued at RM3.4bil.

       Dealers said the reopening of the country’s border helped boost market confidence.

       In terms of fund flow, foreign funds and local retailers were net buyers at RM141mil and RM83mil respectively on Wednesday. Local institutions sold RM224mil worth of equities.

       In today’s session, 22 of the KLCI-component stocks chalked up gains while seven counters ended lower.

       Among the FBM KLCI component stocks, Nestle gained RM1.60 to RM135.50, Petronas Dagangan rose 66 sen to RM21, Hong Leong Financial Group added 60 sen to RM19.24, Petronas Gas advanced 40 sen to RM17.20 and Tenaga climbed 18 sen to RM9.

       Maybank added 14 sen to RM8.95, RHB Bank gained 13 sen to RM5.83 and Public Bank rose 12 sen to RM4.52.

       Laggards among the KLCI component stocks were Kuala Lumpur Kepong, Press Metal, Petronas Chemicals and Sime Darby Plantation.

       On the broader market, MPI surged RM3.18 to RM33.06, F&N jumped 86 sen to RM22.14 and Carlsberg rose 32 sen to RM19.92.

       Elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 3.94%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 1.27%, South Korea’s Kospi closed up 2.21% and China’s CSI300 index advanced 1.57%.