KUALA LUMPUR: After a sluggish start, the FBM KLCI rose in late morning trade in anticipation of the release of more blue-chip corporate results.
At 12.30pm, the key index was up 7.98 points to 1,592.94, in line with other Asian markets, which have turned higher after a cautious start.
Also bolstering gains was positive trade data released by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, which showed a rebound in exports in July amid a surge in electrical and electronic product demand.
The market sentiment was broadly positive with 11 sectors showing gains and only two in the red, underpinned by 439 advancing issues compared to 411 declining. Trading volume was 1.59 billion shares changing hands for RM1.34bil.
Among leading gainers, Nestle climbed 46 sen to RM87.48. Sunway rose 14 sen to RM4.88, Gamuda gained three sen to RM5.73 and Sime Darby rose six sen to RM1.76.
Sunway Construction jumped 24 sen to RM5.82, LPI Capital added 12 sen to Rm14.86 and Westports rose 10 sen to RM5.66.
Of actives, Velesto
rose 0.5 se nto 19 sen, TWL gained 0.5 sne to three sen and Tanco was down 0.5 sen to 73 sen.
Meanwhile, key Asian markets edged higher as the Federal Reserve is expected to drop more hints as to its policy direction at this week's Jackson Hole symposium.
China's composite index gained 0.3% to 3,739 while the CSI 300 rose 0.13%. to 4,244. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.19% to 25,224.
Japan's Nikkei was down 0.07% to 43,681. In South Korea, the Kospi slipped 0.39% to 3,164.
