KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI swung between gains and losses throughout the day before closing firm on Thursday.

At 5pm, the benchmark index closed up 2.24 points, or 0.14% to 1,641.55. after moving between an intra-day high of 1,643.82 and a low of 1,630.45.

In the broader market, there were 473 gainers against 504 losers while 545 counters were unchanged. About 3.3 billion shares, valued at RM2.5bil, changed hands.

Among the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, F&N jumped 50 sen to RM32, Panasonic Manufacturing added 50 sen to RM18.50, Ayer rose 30 sen to RM7 and Hengyuan gained 26 sen to RM2.35.

Pertama Digital hit limit down and plunged to its lowest level in two years. The counter plunged 30%, or 48 sen to RM1.12 with 715,000 shares traded.

BLD Plantation tumbled 46 sen to RM11, Malaysian Pacific Industries lost 36 sen to RM26.58 and Heineken slid 28 sen to RM23.42.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the ringgit and Indonesia's rupiah leading losses, after escalating tensions between Iran and Israel boosted safe-haven demand for the U.S. dollar.

The ringgit fell for a third straight session, slipping as much as 1.2% to its lowest level since Sept. 19.

US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 88 cents to US$70.98 and Brent gained 81 cents to US$74.71 per barrel.

On the external front, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.97% Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed down 1.47%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 ended up 0.1% and Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.04%.

Markets in South Korea were closed for a public holiday. China's mainland markets remain closed for a week-long holiday.