Malaysian stock exchange's benchmkar composite index at closing surged by a massive 10.71 points to close at 1,613.70 points.

Throughout the trading day, the key index fluctuated within a range of 12.49 points, from 1,602.79 points to 1,615.28 points.

Notably, United Plantations Bhd ended four consecutive days of decline, gaining 60 sen intraday to settle at RM30.60, marking a strong recovery from the four-day losses that amounted to RM3.30, or 10% of its close of RM33.30 recorded on Dec 18, the five-year high of the plantation stock after surging up to the high of RM33.48 intraday.