8:04 pm - Malaysian shares close sharply higher, key index at fresh record

Malaysian shares close sharply higher, key index at fresh record - UPDATE (Updating to add analyst comment and share prices) KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Financial) - Malaysian shares closed sharply higher Friday as bargain-hunting in select blue-chips and speculative interest in Telekom Malaysia sent the key index to a new closing high. Investors picked up Telekom shares ahead of a special dividend payout and on speculation about a potential foreign strategic partner for its international mobile unit. Plantation and oil and gas stocks extended their recent run on strong crude oil and commodity prices. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) closed up 31.29 points or 2.2 percent at a new closing record of 1,466.67, off a new all-time high of 1,467.78. For the week, the KLCI gained 19 points or 1.3 percent. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia 30-large cap index rose 235.18 points or 2.5 percent to 9,515.98 and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia second board index added 84.12 points or 1.3 percent to 6,804.75. The plantation sub-index surged 444.22 points or 5.3 percent to 8,566.95. There were 642 advancers and 206 decliners, while 209 stocks were unchanged and 316 counters were untraded. Trading volume was higher at 942 million shares, valued at 2.3 billion ringgit "The market is seeing renewed interest after a flat week,'' said S. Sharath, acting head of research at MIDF Amanah Investment Bank. "Continued interest in plantations, oil and gas stocks and select blue chips is driving the key index up.'' "The strong performance of Telekom Malaysia ahead of a special dividend payout of 65 sen per share contributed strongly to today's rally,'' said Phua Kwee Hock, analyst at SJ Securities. Telekom has fixed January 16 as the ex-date for the payment of the special dividend, he said. "Rumors that the general election is near may have also contributed to the strong performance today,'' said Phua. Many political commentators expect Malaysia to hold a general election in the first quarter of this year. At the close, Telekom jumped 60 sen or 5.2 percent to 12.10 ringgit. Among plantation stocks, Sime Darby, the world's largest listed palm oil producer, surged 60 sen or 5.0 percent to 12.60 ringgit, while IOI Corp, the second largest plantation stock in Malaysia by market value, jumped 60 sen or 7.7 percent to 8.35 ringgit. Another plantation stock, Asiatic Development, topped the gainers list, rallying 65 sen or 7.6 percent to 9.25 ringgit. Among other index heavyweights, state-owned power supplier Tenaga added 5 sen to 9.65 ringgit while Maybank, Malaysia's largest bank, added 20 sen or 1.8 percent to 11.60 ringgit. Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings, which controls CIMB Bank, the second largest bank in Malaysia, gained 30 sen or 2.8 percent to 10.90 ringgit. The Malaysian ringgit closed at 3.2800/2840 against the US dollar and three-month interbank rates stood at 3.61/62 percent, while overnight rates stood at 3.49/50.