KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI remained positive over the early session following the overnight rally in US markets and return of risk-on sentiment.
At 12.30pm, the benchmark index was up 5.89 points to 1,657.38, pulled higher by banking counters and utilities.
The index moved within an 11-point band between 1,649.53 and 1,661.09.
The broader market was underpinned by 448 gainers compared to 379 decliners.
The share turnover was 1.66 billion shares valued at RM1.64bil.
Among the blue chips, Maybank gained eight sen to RM10.98, CIMB rose seven sen to RM8.35, Hong Leong Bank climbed 24 sen to RM21.18 and Public Bank gained 11 sen to RM4.81.
Telekom Malaysia rose 16 sen to 6.65, Tenaga Nasional added six sen to RM14.70 and YTL Power stayed flat at RM3.37.
Of actives, 99 Speed Mart Retail was up two sen to RM1.90, Cape EMS added one sen to 35.5 sen and Alpha rose 1.5 sen to 34.5 sen.
In global markets, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.18% to 36,281 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.28% to 17,224.
China's composite index dipped 0.53% to 2,722 while Singapore's Straits Times index gained 0.38% to 3,509.
