Share prices firmer at mid-day

Share prices ended the morning session firmer today and in line with regional markets, with interest seen in selected heavyweights and lower-liners, dealers said.

At mid-day, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) firmed up 0.93 of a point to 1,651.85, as compared to yesterday's close of 1,650.93.

The benchmark index, which had opened at 1,650.69, hovered between 1,649.91 and 1,653.58 in the morning session.

The Plantation Index eased 30.8 points to 7,942.59, but the Industrial Index gained 14.040 points to 2,836.53, and the Finance Index advanced 7.72 points to 15,283.47.

The FBM Emas Index improved 13.62 points to 11,276.69, the FBMT100 gained 11.59 points to 11,122, and the FBM Mid 70 Index rose 37.29 points to 12,453.

However, the FBM Ace Index dipped 2.96 points to 3,977.14.

Gainers led losers by 312 to 220, with 278 counters unchanged, 831 untraded and 27 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 369.906 million shares worth RM579.284 million.

Among stocks in the limelight today was Scomi Group, which bagged a five-year contract worth RM2.1 billion from Petronas, to provide drilling fluids and barites materials.

Scomi gained 2.5 sen to 35.5 sen.

Among other actives, Metronic Global, GPRO Technologies and Naim Indah Corporation, all added half-a-sen to 10.5 sen, 12 sen and 15.5 sen, respectively.

For the heavyweights, Maybank leapt one sen to RM9.15, Sime Darby was flat at RM9.20, while Axiata Group shed one sen to RM6.39.