KUALA LUMPUR: BSL Corporation Bhd, which has been on an uptrend, rose 8.5% to record high in early trade Friday.

       The precision metal part and printed circuit board maker rose 8.46%, or 17 sen to RM2.18, its all-time high. Year-to-date, the counter has risen a whopping 473%.

       BSL expects to have its sector reclassified to Technology - Semiconductors soon.

       The company is currently placed in Bursa Malaysia’s Industrial Products and Services sector.

       BSL said it would boost its exposure in the semiconductor sector via the proposed acquisition of a "controlling interest” in Singapore-based SD Unify Pte Ltd, which makes and repairs semiconductor foundry equipment.

       BSL described the semiconductor sector as “lucrative” due to the global chip shortage and the booming electric vehicle segment.