KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI rose to its highest in over a week as recovery continued on the local bourse amid easing fears over inflation risks and tariff threats.
As the lunch break, the benchmark index was up 8.43 points to 1,572.99, with the biggest gains seen in data-centre plays.
Shares in Gamuda rose 21 sen to RM4.39 while YTL Power climbed 12 sen to RM3.16, as investors picked up the counters after sharp selling pressure in the previous week sparked by China's DeepSeek AI breakthough.
Meanwhile, funds also flows into lower liners with the bourse registering 538 gainers compared to 315 decliners.
Turnover was 1.64 billion shares changing hands for RM1.15bil.
Strong buying interest was seen in Sunway Construction, adding 16 sen to RM3.84, Kuala Lumpur Kepong gaining 20 sen to RM20.04 and F&N jumping 32 sen ot RM25.82.
Of actives, Harvest Miracle was flat at 19.5 sen, Oriental Kopi rose 0.5 sen to 90.5 sen and MYEG added 1.5 sen to 97.5 sen.
Regionally, equities markets were taking a step back as disappointing earnings from Alphabet cast an uncertain eye over the health of corporate bottomlines this quarter.
US futures were seen retreating, on track to a weaker market open, while most Asian markets were also in the red.
China's stock exchange reopened following an extended Lunar New Year holiday, with the benchmark composite index sliding 0.36% to 3,238.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.69% to 20,647.
Singapore's Straits Times slid 0.14% to 3,817 and Japan's Nikkei was down 0.07% to 38,771.
