FBM KLCI ends at a new high

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares on Bursa Malaysia edged higher on Wednesday to lift the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index to a new all-time high for a third day in a row.

Earlier during the day, the Department of Statistics said the industrial production index rose 5.6% in September from a year ago, boosted by higher factory output.

As at 5pm, the benchmark index was up 1.48 points, or 0.1% higher at 1,528.01 points.

Rising stocks led losers 440 to 420, while 268 counters were unchanged. Total turnover was 1.74 billion shares worth an estimated RM2.27bil.

Other bourses around the region saw mixed performance.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.4% higher to 9,830 points, while in Korea the main Kospi Index surged 1% to 1,967 points.

But stocks in Hong Kong dropped 0.85% with the Hang Seng index at 24,500 points, followed by Singapore’s Straits Times index 0.7% decline to 3,290 points.

In Indonesia, teh Jakarta Composite Index was up 0.5% to 3,752 points