KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI remained afloat of the 1,600 psychological level as it entered the lunch break, in line with a recovery in the regional sentiment.
At 12.30pm, the key index was up 7.82 points to 1,603.87, off an intramorning high of 1,609.57.
All but two of the sectors on the broader market were up, with financial services leading gains in the lead-up to the peak results period this month.
Banking heavyweights led the charge , including Hong Leong Bank up 26 sne to RM19.40, Maybank rising two sen to RM10.18, CIMB adding five sen to RM7.35 and Public Bank adding one sen to RM4.25.
The rise in the market was underpinned by 612 gainers compared to 391 decliners.
Trading volume was 2.49 billion shares valued at RM1.43bil.
Of actives, Cape EMS was flat at 52 sen, Barakah rose 2.5 sen to 7.5 sen and Hubline was flat at 8.5 sen.
Markets around the region were mixed although Japan's stock exchange remained shuttered for a national holiday.
China's composite index was flat at 2,861 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added a marginal 0.1% to 17,098.
Singapore's Straits Times fell 0.84% to 3,234.
