KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia was swept higher by enthusiasm in global markets over the anticipated reopening of the US government as policymakers convene this week to vote on a new bilateral trade agreement.
At midday, the FBM KLCI was up 9.38 points to 1,636.76, the highest in nearly five weeks, as traders tracked Wall Street's sharp overnight rally.
Ther was also improved sentiment in the lower liners as the breadth of market trading turned positive with 516 gainers compared to 469 decliners. Trading volume was 2.39 billion shares valued at RM1.42bil.
By sector, the leading counters were plantations, financial services and healthcare.
Technology stocks were expected to rally in the footsteps of the Nasdaq's over 2% jump overnight, but were relatively subdued with little change recorded over the morning session.
Top gainers included F&N, rising RM1.28 to RM30.04 after investors gave the F&B company a thumbs-up after it revealed its expansion plans during a recent results briefing.
Plantations stocks leading the pack included United Plantation adding 36 sen to RM25.74 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong rising 30 sen to RM21.42.
British American Tobacco
rallied 14 sen to RM4.83, while Carlsberg gained 12 sen to RM16.80.
Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei led Asian stocks higher, rising 0.31% to 51,070 as the tech-heavy index tracked the Nasdaq's performance.
China stocks, however, were subdued with Shanghai's composite index sliding 0.38% to 4,003, and the blue-chip CSI300 falling 0.67% to 4,663.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 0.2% to 26,595.
