STOCKS on Bursa Malaysia ended slightly higher yesterday on mild buying interest amid profit-taking ahead of the weekend, dealers said.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia
KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 2.87 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 1,876.74, after hovering between 1,870.09 and 1,876.74 throughout the day.

Gainers outpaced losers 412 to 345, while 347 counters were unchanged, 522 untraded and 17 others suspended. Total volume decreased to 1.26 billion shares valued at RM1.39 billion from 1.18 billion shares worth RM1.45 billion on Thursday.

The Finance Index dropped 3.391 points to 17,148.52, the Industrial Index rose 0.87 point to 3,192.05 and the Plantation Index declined 5.061 points to 9,232.84.

The FBM Emas Index was 16.439 points higher at 12,974.34, the FBMT100 Index gained 13.84 points to 12,614.53, the FBM ACE Index advanced 47.3 points to 6,636.05 and the FBM 70 dropped 6.26 points to 14,053.4.

Dealers said equities were higher despite the mixed regional market following the overnight losses incurred on Wall Street.

"Bursa Malaysia is quiet as investors turn their attention to the 2014 FIFA World Cup," a dealer said.

However, HLIB Research said investors should look beyond the short-term volatility.

Meanwhile, FBM KLCI futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower in thin trade in line with the equities market.

Spot month June 2014 fell 3.5 points to 1,876.5, July 2014 slipped two points to 1,880, September 2014 declined one point to 1,877 and December 2014 was flat at 1,876.5.

Turnover decreased to 2,344 lots from 3,505 lots on Thursday, while open interest increased to 33,641 contracts from 30,903 contracts previously. Bernama