The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) recorded a new all-time high of 1,601.04 after rising 4.71 points during the mid-afternoon trade today.

The index touched the 1,597 record level on July 11 last year.

OSK Research director Chris Eng told Bernama that the local bourse was driven by pre-election buying.

However, there are some risks of the market re-tracing, expected in the first half of this year, he said.

A dealer had forecast that the benchmark would break the all-time high of 1,597 this week supported by local liquidity and strong first-quarter market performance in the Asia Pacific markets.

The regional stock markets today were mostly lifted by news of positive production for the fourth straight month in China.

Volume on the Main Market decreased to 687.852 million shares worth RM1.315 billion from 754.52 million units worth RM2.03 billion on Friday.

Turnover on the ACE market advanced to 673.64 million shares valued at RM77.52 million from 388.7 million shares valued at RM44.8 million on Friday.

Warrants increased to 82.59 million units worth RM10.035 million from 56.988 million units worth RM5.88 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 71.31 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 97.49 million, construction 18.29 million, trade and services 293.27 million, technology 15.66 million, infrastructure 18.61 million, finance 62.05 million, hotels 1.84 million , properties 83.44 million, plantations 20.88 million, mining 42,400, REITs 3.07 million and closed/fund 32,700.

- Bernama