KUALA LUMPUR: After a slow start at the open, the FBM KLCI moved higher into positive territory, lifted by Petronas Chemicals, and ended the morning session up 4.5 points to 1,787.97.
Trading volume was 1.18 billion shares valued at RM851.41mil. There were 335 gainers versus 417 decliners and 377 counters unchanged.
Asian markets were cautiously optimistic as investors awaited more details on proposed trade talks about the US and China.
Japan Nikkei moved between positive and negative territory, and traded 0.33% lower at midday. Shanghai's Composite Index was up a slight 0.11%.
On the local index, Petronas Chemicals surged 34 sen to RM9.48. Axiata was the second biggest gainer, rising seven sen to RM4.42.
Maybank rose three sen to RM9.81, Hong Leong Bank put on eight sen to RM19.22 and Public Bank lifted two sen to RM24.53.
Genting added eight sen to RM8.69 while MSC advanced seven sen to RM6.14 and IHH edged up one sen to RM5.49.
On the losing end, Dialog gave up 10 sen to RM3.34, Sime Darby Plantation
dropped seven sen to RM5.17 and Nestle slipped 30 sen to RM146.10.
IOI, which released its quarterly results last Friday, slid five sen in morning trade to RM4.52. Kenanga Research and PublicInvest Research said in reports today that the company missed their respective FY18 forecasts.
Oil markets were down in Monday trade as concerns grew that the global economy was slowing, diminishing demand.
WTI crude fell 24 cents to US65.67 a barrel while Brent crude dropped 22 cents to US$71.61 a barrel.
In currencies, the ringgit was 0.12% stronger against the greenback at 4.1007. It fell 0.17% against the pound sterling at 5.2280 and 0.14% against the Singapore dollar at 2.9918.
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