KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended its rally at the opening bell following a positive performance on Wall Street and as speculation continued over a Chinese economic reopening.
At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI was up 2.14 points to 1,444.20.
There were 154 gainers compared with 91 decliners.
Trading volume was 157.66 million shares crossing hands for RM42.67mil.
The domestic market has been seeing a return of foreign funds with net inflows recorded for a second straight day yesterday.
However, Malacca Securities Research noted investors may stay cautiously optimistic as US inflation data later this week may indicate a prolonged interest rate upcycle environment.
On the local front, it added that the election-theme sector may set to take centre stage over the near term.
"Meanwhile, investors may favour stocks with positive outlook prior to the earnings season such as consumer and O&G stocks.
"The energy and plantation sectors could remain its uptrend move on the back of firmer commodity prices," it added in its daily market outlook.
Among blue chips, there was some positive movement in PETRONAS Chemicals up four sen to RM8.59, Hong Leong Bank rising eight sen to RM20.68 and Sime Darby Plantation
gaining two sen to RM4.38.
Top active counters on the broader markets incuded Advance Synergy rising 0.5 sen to 9.5 sen, Velesto unchanged at 13 sen and EA Holdings down 0.5 sen to one sen.
