KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd shares rose 2.44 percent, more than double Malaysia's benchmark index.

Market Metrics

* Shares advanced to RM20.14, higher than any close since at least February 1993, from RM19.66 in the previous session.

* Trading volume was almost seven times the 20-day average.

* The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index - Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 0.7 percent, and the MSCI AC Asia Pacific Index rose 0.7 percent.

Market Insights

* In the past year, the stock had a similar or greater gain 20 times at the close; it advanced in the next trading session nine times (1.2 percent, on average) and declined nine times (0.8 percent, on average).

* Shares are at a 8.5 percent discount to the analysts' consensus target price. The stock traded at an average 9.7 percent discount over the past year.

* Stock advanced 3.7 percent in the past 52 weeks as the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index - Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 8.1 percent.