KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI extended its gains at midday on Friday despite the mixed regional markets, boosted by Tenaga and Public Bank, as both companies posted stellar performance for its quarterly earnings.
At 12.30pm, the KLCI rose 6.6 points to 1,809.81. Turnover was 1.004 billion shares valued at RM920.35mil. There were 395 gainers, 274 decliners and 302 counters unchanged.
Reuters reported Asian shares edged higher in early trade on Friday and oil prices continued to rebound, even as investors remained wary ahead of the key US nonfarm payrolls report for January later in the session.
On Wall Street on Thursday, major indexes all ended with gains of 1% or more, and a corresponding rise in US. Treasury yields underpinned the US dollar's lift against rivals, it said.
Meanwhile, JF Apex Research said Asian equities are expected to follow Wall Street higher, but apprehension about Greece's bailout program could cap gains.
"We expect the KLCI to remain sideways below its resistance of 1,830 points," it noted.
At Bursa Malaysia, Tenaga rose 26 sen to RM14.80, adding 2.5 points to the index, and Public Bank 40 sen to RM18.84, adding 2.7 points.
Dutch Lady
rose 28 sen to RM47.88, Carlsberg 28 sen to RM12.22 and GAB 50 sen to RM12.70.
Decliners were RHBCap, down 15 sen to RM7.99 and HLCap 10 sen to RM12.20.
PPB Group fell 10 se to RM14.70 and MPI eight sen to RM5.66.
Encorp fell 15 sen to RM1.15.
Nikkei 225 rose 0.8% to 17,644.71
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index fell 0.28% to 24,696.53
Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index fell 1.14% to 3,100.88
Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index fell 0.54% to 9,460.67
Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI Index fell 0.15% to 1,949.99
Straits Times Index STI rose 0.89% to 3,436.75
Crude oil rose 68 cents to US$51.16 and Brent 44 cents to US$57.01.
Spot gold rose US$1.64 to US$1,266.46.
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