KUALA LUPUR: Some fund buying of index-linked stocks including Public Bank and DiGi helped propel the FBM KLCI higher as sentiment for blue chips was firmer on Wednesday, ahead of the listing of Felda Global Ventures on Thursday.

The broader market was however mixed with most retail investors staying on the sidelines.

The FBM KLCI closed up 7.79 points or 0.49% to 1,601.89. Turnover was 1.18 billion shares valued at RM1.63bil. There were 364 gainers, 366 losers and 309 counters unchanged.

Key regional markets rose on expectations China would undertake "more proactive" policies to ensure stable growth in the world's second-largest economy. European markets also climbed in early trade.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.77% to 8,730.49; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 1.03% to 19,176.95; Taiwan's Taiex added 0.63% to 7,183.01 and Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 1.28% to 2,841.4.60.

However, South Korea's Kospi was flat at 1,817.65 while Shanghai's Composite Index slipped 0.23% to 2,216.93.

As for commodities, US light crude oil fell 37 cents to US$78.98 and Brent 82 cents lower at US$92.20. Spot gold fell US$5.66 to US$1,567.20 while crude palm oil third-month futures slipped RM7 to RM3,025.

At Bursa Malaysia, BAT was the top gainer, up RM1 to RM56 with 24,900 shares done, pushing the KLCI up 0.45 of a point.

Public Bank added 18 sen to RM13.90, pushing the index up 1.99 points while DiGi's nine sen gain to RM4.26 nudged the index up 1.64 points. Hong Leong Bank gained 20 sen to RM12.60.

Panasonic Malaysia rose 48 sen to RM23.08, Nestle 40 sen to RM58.10, Pharmaniaga 38 sen to RM10 and MISC 22 sen to RM4.42.

Luster was the most active counter with 112.73 million shares done, slipping 0.5 sen to 14.5 sen.

Muhibbah fell 18 sen to RM1.02 on expectations it would have to make provisions for the Asian Petroleum Hub project.

Dutch Lady fell 40 sen to RM35.20, Tradewinds 11 sen to RM9.28 and Kris Assets 11 sen also to RM7.81.

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