KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): The FBM KLCI finished 0.46% or 7.3 points higher at 1,582.46 in line with gains in regional markets.

Index-linked counters that rose included Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

TA Securities Research said that pending confirmation of a ramp-up in the daily vaccination pace by the government in the coming months, recovery plays should dissipate amid fading economic reopening optimism.

“Meantime, on the local political front, uncertainty over the outcome from the Agong's meeting with the council of rulers this Wednesday should see investors staying sidelined during the early part of the week,” it said in a note today.

Overall market sentiment was positive with 564 counters posting gains against 423 that declined, while 449 counters closed unchanged.

Top value gainers were Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, D&O Green Technologies Bhd and Unisem (M) Bhd, while top losers were Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd, Transocean Holdings Bhd and Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd.

The day's most actively traded stocks included Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd, KNM Group Bhd and Tanco Holdings Bhd.

Regional markets closed higher today with Hong Kong's Hang Seng up 0.36%, Japan's Nikkei 225 up 0.74%, and South Korea's Kospi up 0.09%.

However, the Shanghai Composite finished down 0.58% at 3,589.75, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.21% to 29,161.8.

Reuters reported that world stocks climbed to another peak today, while US bond yields were near three-month lows as worries of rising inflation abated and investors anticipated the US Federal Reserve sticking to its dovish course this week.