Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were higher in early trade today following advances in regional markets after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said easy monetary policy would remain to reduce unemployment, dealers said.

At 9.15am, the benchmark FBM KLCI rose 7.38 points to 1,590.36 after opening 2.82 points higher at 1,585.80.

The Finance Index increased 55.66 points to 14,274.53, the Industrial Index rose 13.19 points to 2,877.94 and the Plantation Index increased 35.84 points to 8,698.71.

The FBM Emas Index increased 46.08 points to 10,922.35, the FBM70 Index was 37.47 points higher at 12,059.47 and the FBM ACE Index increased 97.27 points to 4,783.72.

Advancers beat decliners 217 to 69 while 133 counters were unchanged, 1,096 untraded and 25 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 178.97 million shares worth RM73.95 million.

Oversea Enterprise gained 6.5 sen to 21 sen, Eduspec Holdings rose 2.5 sen to 13.5 sen, Supercomnet Technologies declined 3.5 sen to 46 sen and Iris Corporation gained one sen to 19 sen.

Maybank increased five sen to RM8.90, Sime Darby rose five sen to RM9.78, CIMB rose seven sen to RM7.64 and Petronas Chemicals advanced five sen to RM6.74. -- Bernama