Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were higher, in early trade, with the main market barometer surging to a new high as investors' appetite was supported further by the stronger regional markets as well as the overnight gains in Europe and Wall Street, said a dealer.

At 9.20am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at a new high of 1,539.33, up 5.91 points from yesterday close.
It opened 1.15 points better at 1,534.57.

Plantation counters as well as key heavyweights continued to dominate the gainers list, the dealer said.

However, profit taking was seen in finance and related counters.
'Needless to say, the near-term technical outlook for the FBM KLCI is firmly bullish as it is now trading at its historic high.

'From the current level, the 1,550 psychological mark is the next resistance. The previous historic high of 1,532 points has now become an immediate support while the next support is seen at 1,510 points,' said OSK Research.

The Finance Index added 14.229 points to 13,993.68, the Industrial Index jumped 28.12 points to 2,904.36 and the Plantation Index went up 20.96 points to 8,154.29.

The FBM Emas Index climbed 42.35 points to 10,534.09, the FBM Ace Index perked 20.61 points to 4,380.1 and the FBM70 Index surged 55.91 points to 11,118.82.

Gainers thumped losers 266 to 69 while 161 counters were unchanged, 885 untraded and 30 others were suspended.

Volume stood at 146.056 million shares worth RM112.348 million.
Sime Darby was the top gainer, adding 28 sen to RM9.23 followed by LPI Capital which increased 26 sen to RM13.88 and Kulim jumped 16 sen to RM12.64.

Among the active counters, DRB Hicom-CC:CW inched up one sen to 51.5 sen, Talam edged up half-a-sen to 9.5 sen and Petra gained five sen to RM1.15.

Heavyweights, CIMB Group slipped one sen to RM8.61, Maybank advanced two sen to RM8.57, Petronas Chemicals fell two sen to RM5.55 and Genting rose four sen to RM11.28. -- Bernama