KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI joined regional markets in welcoming the announcement from the US Federal Reserve that it remained on course to delivering three rate cuts by the end of the year.
At 12.30pm, Malaysia's key index was up 3.75 points to 1,539.54, while the broader market saw 528 gainers as compared to 432 decliners and 417 stocks unchanged.
For the early session, the share turnover was 2.33 billion valued at RM1.43bil.
The 0.2% gain on the FBM KLCI was conservative if compared against other regional markets.
Among the Asian heavyweights, Japan's Nikkei hit a new record after surging 1.8% to 40,705 while South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.2% to 2,749.
China's main index was subdued, falling 0.2% to 3,073, while the blue-chip CSI300 slid 0.2% to 3,579 amid ongoing concerns over economic policy.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng, however, leapt 1.75% to 16,832.
In Southeast Asian markets, Singapore's Straits Times Index added 1.1% to 3,210, the Jakarta Composite Index gained 0.6% to 7,378 and Thailand's SET rose 1% to 1,387.
Back on Bursa Malaysia, the financial services sector led gains although there was a mixed result among the leading heavyweights.
Among the top three by assets, CIMB rose seven sen to RM6.55 but Maybank dropped three sen to RM8.54 and Public Bank shaved one sen to RM4.23.
Lagging sectors during the early session included health care, telcos and media, transport and logistics, and utilities.
Of actives, EMCC gained five sen to 50 sen, Mintec rose 2.5 sen to 16 sen and Top Glove dropped four sen to 82 sen.
