KUALA LUMPUR (May 13): Share trade volume across Bursa Malaysia rose to record high today, after 7.69 billion shares worth RM3.86 billion were traded across the exchange at 3:33pm.

At 3:36pm, Bursa registered a volume of 7.77 billion shares, valued at RM3.9 billion. 

Bursa’s previous all-time high trading volume was on Aug 20, 2014, when the exchange saw 7.67 billion shares transacted.

At a glance today, HLT Global Bhd's shares and warrants (HLT-WA) recorded substantial trades today. At 3:45pm, HLT-WA was the most actively traded with a volume at some 453 million units.

HLT shares saw some 282 million units transacted.

Glove dipping line manufacturer HLT is in the spotlight, amid expectation of higher rubber glove demand due to the spectre of a Covid-19 infection resurgence.

Earlier today, Bursa’s healthcare index settled up 171.34 points or 10.69% at 1,773.99 at the bourse’s afternoon break, as concerns of a second wave of Covid-19 infections led to buying of shares in healthcare-related companies including rubber glove manufacturers and hospital operators.

At 12:30pm, Bursa’s top three gainers were glove manufacturers Top Glove Corp Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd and Supermax Corp Bhd. Other notable gainers included hospital operator IHH Healthcare Bhd.

Globally, it was reported that stocks and oil prices fell on Wednesday, as fears about a second wave of coronavirus infections gripped financial markets.

Reuters reported that investors, many facing steep losses due to the pandemic-driven shakeout in assets over the past few months, have also had to contend with renewed US-China trade tensions.

It was reported that Asian shares tumbled on Tuesday, on growing worries about a second wave of coronavirus infections, after the Chinese city where the pandemic originated reported its first new cases since its lockdown was lifted. The central Chinese city of Wuhan reported five new cases on Monday, casting doubts over efforts to lower coronavirus-related restrictions across the country, as businesses restart and individuals go back to work.