Bursa Malaysia extended its gains by midday on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rising 11.54 points or 0.67% to 1,725.30 as buying interest continued after a firmer opening.
The index opened at 1,716.76 and traded between an intraday low of 1,716.76 and a high of 1,726.75, supported by stronger movements across selected heavyweights and broader market counters.
The broader market remained positive, with the FBM EMAS Index advancing 67.61 points or 0.53% to 12,717.34, while the FBM70 Index added 25.88 points or 0.14% to 17,911.66. The FBM Small Cap Index also gained 54.73 points or 0.44% to 12,557.51.
Trading activity was dominated by NationGate Holdings Bhd, which emerged as the most active counter with 886.74 million shares traded. The stock climbed 18 sen or 18.56% to RM1.15.
Tanco Holdings Bhd was the second most actively traded stock, although it fell 1.5 sen or 4.76% to 30 sen with 793.15 million shares exchanged. VS Industry Bhd gained 2 sen to 24 sen, while DNeX Bhd rose 3 sen to 47.5 sen.
Among the top gainers, Petronas Dagangan Bhd added 32 sen to RM19.64, followed by Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd which gained 24 sen to RM29.34 and United Plantations Bhd which rose 20 sen to RM34.90.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd remained among the biggest decliners, falling 82 sen to RM44.92. UMS Integration Bhd dropped 28 sen to RM8.03, while Kluang Rubber Company (Malaya) Bhd declined 17 sen to RM6.28.
