KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI rose 1.2% yesterday – its highest in over three months, as the positive market sentiment continued to hold amid the spike in Covid-19 cases.

       At the closing bell, the benchmark index surged 18.59 points or 1.2% to close at 1,570.10, its intraday high and also the highest since late October 2021.

       Market breadth was positive, as 567 advancers outnumbered 399 losers. Meanwhile, 425 counters were unchanged.

       The local bourse saw a total of 3.19 billion shares worth RM2.62bil traded.

       Dealers said investors’ risk appetite picked up as they looked past the Covid-19 infections cases.

       Malaysia reported 19,090 new Covid-19 infections yesterday, bringing the cumulative number in the country to 2.97 million cases since the pandemic began.

       Sam Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd jumped 98 sen to RM24.48, Batu Kawan Bhd rose 76 sen to RM24.18, PMB Technology Bhd gained 74 sen to RM18.60 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd advanced 68 sen to RM22.74.

       Complete Logistic Services Bhd lost 21 sen to RM4.04, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd shed 20 sen to RM23.94 and OM Holdings Bhd fell 19 sen to RM2.91.

       Hartalega Holdings Bhd fell 11 sen to RM5.05, MR DIY Group (M) Bhd lost three sen to RM3.63 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd eased two sen to RM9.24.

       Malayan Banking Bhd, Public Bank Bhd and Genting Bhd rose five sen each to RM8.55, RM4.35 and RM4.65 respectively.

       Meanwhile, the ringgit was flat against the US dollar at 4.1838.

       The US light crude oil rose 24 US cents (RM1) to US$89.90 (RM376.10) and Brent added 13 US cents (54 sen) to US$91.68 (RM383.54) per barrel.