KUALA LUMPUR: Blue chips turned positive at midday on Tuesday, underpinned by gains in power giant Tenaga Nasional, tracking the key Asian bourses, but the broader market was weaker, indicating the weaker investor sentiment.
At 12.30pm, the KLCI was up 3.06 points or 0.18% at 1,721.42. Turnover was 1.16 billion shares valued at RM887.67mil. The broader market weakened with decliners beating advances three to one or 459 losers to 169 gainers and 519 counters unchanged.'
China stocks rose on Tuesday, with brokerages leading blue chips higher as analysts expect the sector to benefit from a stronger-than expected stock market performance this year, Reuters reported.
At Bursa, Tenaga rose eight sen to RM14.90. As for plantations, KL Kepong rose 16 sen to RM19.36 and PPB Group added 14 sen to RM16.70.
Press Metal warrants jumped 23 sen to RM4.41 and its shares 19 sen higher at RM4.84.
Nestle was the top gainer, up 44 sen to RM90.28 but Heineken fell 48 sen to RM17.52, BAT 30 sen lower at RM39.70.
Burn-in tester KESM added 16 sen to RM19.36 but MPI fell 24 sen to RM13.30 and Vitrox 17 sen lower at RM5.04.
HL Industries added 10 sen to RM10.10.