KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 31): The sudden surge in buying interest in five component stocks, namely IHH Healthcare Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd, Axiata Bhd, Digi.Com Bhd and Petronas Gas Bhd (PetGas), helped lift the FBM KLCI by 1.55% or 23.92 points to end the year at 1,567.53 points on the last trading day of 2021.

In the last 30 minutes before the closing bell, the bellwether index jumped by 20.08 points or 1.3% due to the late buying interest. Nonetheless, the benchmark index lost 3.67% year-on-year.

Among the top 30 FBM KLCI constituents, 23 ended in the positive territory, five ended in the red while two were unchanged on Friday. For 2021, 18 of them ended the year with gains while 12 were lower.

IHH Healthcare ended the year at an all time high of RM7.34. The stock soared from RM6.77 to RM7.34 within the last quarter of the trading hour. There were 14.7 million shares changing hands. The healthcare group's share price leapt 33.45% in 2021.

Likewise, the world's largest glove manufacturer, Top Glove Corp Bhd, also saw a steep climb in the final 30 minutes before the closing bell. The counter jumped from RM2.37 to close at RM2.59. The stock was up 15 sen or 6.15% on Friday. Still, it tumbled nearly 57% or RM2.88 in 2021.

There was also strong buying interest in two telcos at around 4.45pm. Axiata increased from RM3.87 to RM4.16 in the last 15 minutes, with 7.75 million shares traded, while Digi.Com went up from RM4.04 to RM4.36, with 5.29 million shares changing hands.

At the closing bell, Axiata gained 31 sen or 8.05%, giving it a market value of RM38.17 billion. Digi.Com Bhd surged 32 sen or 7.92% to RM4.36, giving it a market value of RM33.9 billion. For the year, Axiata gained 11.23% and Digi.Com was up 5.31%.

PetGas, on the other hand, also climbed steeply in the last half of the trading hour. Its share price jumped from RM17.20 at around 4.30pm to RM18. The counter saw its share price soar 78 sen or 4.53%. The utility stock rose 5.1% in 2021.