KUALA LUMPUR: Equity markets pulled higher on Friday as investors looked forward to the trade talks between the US and China.
Japan's Nikkei rose 0.35% to 22,270.38 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.42% to 27,213.41.
However, the Shanghai Composite Index slid to a 31-month low over concerns that a vaccine scandal would affect healthcare firms. The index fell 1.34% to 2,668.97.
At 5pm the FBM KLCI gained 6.2 points to 1,783.47. Trading volume was two billion shares valued at RM2.04bil. There were 466 gainers versus 403 decliners and 451 counters unchanged.
Among the leading leading movers, Maxis climbed nine sen to RM5.75, Axiata rose six sen to RM4.35 and Sime Darby Plantation
gained eight sen to RM5.24.
Dialog also advanced nine sen to RM3.44, a day after announcing its improved second quarter results.
On the losing end of the index, Petronas Chemicals dropped 10 sen to RM9.14 and Petronas Gas slid 12 sen to RM18.26.
Tenaga Nasional weighed four sen to RM15.70 and Nestle shaved 60 sen to RM146.60.
On the broader market, Elsoft jumped 12 sen to RM3.19. In an earnings announcement released after market close, the company posted a Q2 net profit of RM12.01mil, 76% over what it recorded in the previous corresponding quarter.
Among the top laggards, Far East fell 18 sen to RM3.20, Scientex dropped 13 sen to RM8.06 while Inari lost 12 sen to RM2.28.
Oil prices edged up on Friday but were heading for yet another weekly decline amid increasing concern over trade disputes and slowing global economic growth that could hit demand for petroleum products, Reuters reported.
Brent crude oil futures were up 30 cents at US$71.73 a barrel while WTI crude futures rose 18 cents to US$65.64.
In currencies, the ringgit was marginally weaker against the US dollar at 4.0155. It also fell slightly against the pound sterling at 5.1291 and the Singapore dollar at 2.9876
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