KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI eked out a marginal gain at midday after spending the duration of the early session in negative territory.
Global equities were finding their footing as stumbling in the previous session as investors took the opportunity to cash in ahead of a key inflation report and remarks by US Federal Reserve officials on interest rates.
At 12.30pm, the Malaysian benchmark index was 0.33 points higher at 1,599.99.
The broader market was nearly even with 446 decliners compared to 442 gainers. A total of 10 sectors rose into positive territory, with plantations leading the gains.
Overall trading volume was 1.97 billion shares changing hands for RM1.24bil.
Among top gainers on the market, Malayan cement rose 20 sen to RM6.70, Kerjaya Prospek gained 15 sen to RM2.40 and Hume Industries added 12 sen to RM3.67.
Top actives were NexG Bina adding one sen to 10 sen, Tanco up 0.5 sen to 89 sen and SFP Tech gaining 1.5 sen to 19 sen.
