KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended the morning session on a positive note with bank shares leading the rally, as investors started the first full trading week of 2026 with renewed optimism.
Following a sluggish year-end, the index jumped 5.65 points to 1,675.41, after easing off an early morning high of 1,681.94.
The rally erased losses made in the previous Friday, but has yet to return to 2025's closing price of 1,680.
The broader market saw a positive breadth of 518 gainers to 435 decliners, and trading volume of 1.48 billion shares valued at RM1.15bil. Of the 13 market sectors, only telcos and media, and transport and logistics were in the red.
Among the blue chips, the biggest winners were Hong Leong Financial Group climbing 44 sen to RM19.42, Kuala Lumpur Kepong rising 18 sen to RM19.98, Hong Leong Bank adding 16 sen to RM22.44 and CIMB gaining 15 sen to RM8.25.
Insights Analytics surged 33 sen to a new historical high of RM1.46, with the day's leading volume of 51.24 million shares, after CIMB Securities initiated coverage on the share with a "buy" call.
The research firm said the asset management systems firm's earnings stand to register a three-year compound annual growth rate of 51.6%, underpinned by new contract wins and rising recurring income.
Meanwhile, other stocks with notable price increases included Malayan Cement jumping 17 sen to RM7.96 and IJM adding 15 sen to RM2.46.
Meanwhile, Asian markets pushed higher, defying expectations of risk-off sentiment triggered by the US attack on Venezuela.
Japan's Nikkei rose 2.95% to 51,834 while South Korea's Kospi leapt 2.82% to 4,431.
China's Shanghai Composite index gained 1.07% to 4,011 and the CSI 300 rose 1.59% to 4,703.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.08% to 26,316.
