Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gaining 6.65 points or 0.39% to 1,720.41 as investors tracked positive sentiment from global markets.
The index opened at 1,716.76 and moved to an intraday high of 1,720.96, supported by gains across several key sectors.
The broader market also traded mostly positive, with the FBM Top 100 Index rising 32.17 points or 0.26% to 12,512.69, while the FBM Emas Index added 31.21 points or 0.25% to 12,680.94.
However, the FBM 70 Index slipped 23.47 points or 0.13% to 17,862.31, while the FBM Small Cap Index edged up 5.80 points or 0.04% to 15,653.58.
Among sector indices, construction shares gained 0.30 points or 0.11% to 280.62, while consumer products and services rose 0.77 points or 0.15% to 499.88.
The energy index was among the weaker performers, declining 2.92 points or 0.38% to 767.24.
Trading activity was led by Tanco Holdings Bhd, which recorded 504.83 million shares traded, although the counter fell 1.5 sen or 4.76% to 30 sen.
Other actively traded counters included NationGate Holdings Bhd, which gained 11 sen or 11.34% to RM1.08 with 352.02 million shares exchanged, while HHRG Bhd declined 1 sen or 6.06% to 15.5 sen.
Among the top gainers, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd rose 22 sen to RM29.32, followed by Petronas Dagangan Bhd, which added 16 sen to RM19.48 and United Plantations Bhd, which increased 16 sen to RM34.86.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd was the biggest decliner, falling RM1 to RM44.74, followed by Kluang Rubber Company (Malaya) Bhd, which dropped 40 sen to RM6.05.
The firmer opening came after Wall Street ended higher overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.29%, the S&P 500 gaining 0.38% and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 0.62% as softer US inflation data boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve could maintain a less aggressive monetary policy stance.
