KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended firmer on Wednesday in cautious trading amid negative external sentiment, while oil surged past US$110 per barrel.

       The price of oil surged past US$110 per barrel on concern that global energy security is under threat following the geopolitical developments between Russia-Ukraine.

       US light crude oil surged US6.80 to US$110.21 a barrel and Brent advanced US$6.70 to US$111.67 per barrel, the most since 2009 to a record.

       At 5pm, the bellwether FBM KLCI added 1.66 points or 0.1% to finish at 1,598.10. Volume stood at 3.23 billion units valued at RM3.69bil.

       The broader market sagged, with decliners now overtaking advancers 607 to 406 while 378 counters were unchanged.

       Dealers expect the index to remain range-bound as investors awaited the outcome of the Bank Negara’s overnight policy rate decision.

       According to a Bloomberg survey, all six economists polled expect Bank Negara to keep its policy rate unchanged at 1.75%.

       Kuala Lumpur Kepong was the top gainer on Bursa Malaysia, rising RM1.36 to RM27.40, followed by Nestle, which added 80 sen to RM136.30 and Batu Kawan advanced 72 sen to RM27.18.

       Malaysian Pacific Industries, Hong Leong Capital, Heineken Malaysia and D & O Green Technologies are among the top losers on Bursa Malaysia.

       Among the banks, Maybank added four sen to RM8.94, Public Bank declined one sen to RM4.41, CIMB lost 26 sen to RM5.03, Hong Leong Bank gained 10 sen to RM20.50 and RHB Bank closed unchanged at RM5.81.

       Meanwhile, Asian bourses closed lower today, with Japan's Nikkei 225 losing 1.68%, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.16%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed down 1.84% and China’s Shanghai Composite fell 0.13%.