KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI was a fraction higher at midday amid positive sentiment for equities as the trade negotiations between the US and its trading partners were seen making progress.
At 12.30pm, the Malaysian benchmark was up a marginal 0.65 points to 1,533.61. The number of advancing issues slightly outnumbers declining 397 to 362. Volume was 1.04 billion shares valued at RM837.54mil.
On the domestic market, Gamuda gained 16 sen to RM4.95, Vitrox rose 15 sen to RM3.67 and MSC jumped 11 sen to RM2.41.
Bank stocks, however, were mostly dragged on the FBM KLCI with Maybank falling one sen to RM9.69, CIMB dropping four sen to RM6.75, Hong Leong Bank dipping 10 sen to RM19.40 and Public Bank sliding four sne to MR4.27.
Leading actives included Sapura Energy
up 0.5 sen to four sen, MYEG rising one sen to 96 sen and Tanco down two sen to 89.5 sen.
Meanwhile, regional markets were mixed ahead of a vote over Trump's tax cuts and spending bill, which has taken the greenback down to multi-year lows.
South Korea's Kospi surged 1.24% to a fresh four-year high at 3,109 while Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.84% ot 40,147.
In China, the composite index rose 0.21% to 3,451 and the blue-chip CSI300 was flat at 3,937.
Hong Kong's stock exchange was closed for a national holiday.
