KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 14): The FBM KLCI closed up 3.76 points or 0.22% while trading volume across Bursa Malaysia rose to 3.89 billion shares as investors took cue from factors including higher crude oil prices. At 5pm, the KLCI ended at its intraday high at 1,689.06.

Analysts said higher crude oil prices supported gains among oil and gas-related shares on Bursa Malaysia. These include top-active stock Sapura Energy Bhd, the share-trade volume of which jumped to over 612 million units.

TA Securities Holdings Bhd technical analyst Steven Soo told theedgemarkets.com that "oil and gas stocks are bouncing back strongly mainly driven by the rise in oil prices".

Reuters reported that oil prices rose by around 1% on Thursday, with Brent crude futures hitting a 2019-high, buoyed by hopes that the Sino-US tariff dispute could end soon and as China's trade figures including crude imports beat forecasts.

It was reported that international Brent crude oil futures were at US$64.35 per barrel at 0754 GMT, up 74 cents, or 1.1%, from their last close. It was reported that Brent hit a 2019-high of US$64.43 per barrel earlier in the session while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at US$54.46 per barrel, up 57 cents, or 1.1%, from their last settlement.

Across Bursa Malaysia today, trading volume rose to 3.89 billion shares valued at RM2.29 billion. Yesterday, 2.63 billion shares were traded for RM1.88 billion.

Today, Bursa Malaysia's energy index closed up 37.85 points or 4.15% at 949.53 as oil and gas shares took cue from higher crude oil prices.

Sapura Energy's trading volume jumped to some 612 million shares from about 29 million units yesterday. Today, the stock climbed three sen to close at 30.5 sen.

Bumi Armada Bhd was the second most-active stock today with some 303 million shares traded. The stock rose two sen to 24.5 sen.