KUALA LUMPUR (July 5): The FBM KLCI jumped in the final trading minutes for a 6.08-point or 0.3% gain mainly on late buying of index-linked Hong Leong Bank Bhd shares.

At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,768.16 points. Hong Leong Bank shares rose 56 sen to RM16.30 to become Bursa Malaysia's top gainer.

Bursa Malaysia gainers outnumbered decliners at 420 against 361 respectively. A total of 1.49 billion shares valued at RM1.69 billion were traded.

Malaysian shares rose today as Asian markets remained cautious after North Korea fired a missile that landed in Japanese waters yesterday.

In Malaysia today, TA Securities Holdings Bhd senior technical analyst Stephen Soo told theedgemarkets.com that "there are still concerns across Asian markets over North Korea’s missile testing."

Reuters reported that Asian share markets inched back into the black on Wednesday as investors wagered the latest flare-up of tensions on the Korean peninsula would fade away like so many others.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan regained 0.3 percent, half the losses suffered Tuesday when North Korea fired the missile.