KUALA LUMPUR: Asian markets chalked up strong gains at the midday break on April 30, with the KL Composite advancing more than 17 points, powered by gains in BCHB , Genting and Tenaga.

Plantation stocks were also higher, underpinned by the firm crude palm oil (CPO) prices, which rose RM66 to RM2,546 per tonne.

At 12.30pm, the KLCI was up 17.15 points to 984.61, despite that it was a trade-shortened week with May 1 being Labour Day. Turnover was 860.56 million shares valued at RM690.42 million. There were 427 gainers, 115 losers and 206 stocks unchanged.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 3.58% to 8,797.73, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 2.3% to 15,298.76, Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 1.7% to 1,881.75, while Shanghai’s Composite Index added 0.83% to 2,488.69.

Light crude oil rose 33 cents to US$51.30.

BCHB rose 25 sen to RM8.15, Genting 24 sen to RM4.62 while adding 20 sen was Tenaga to RM7.30. Among the plantations, KL Kepong, Sime and related counter PPB rose 20 sen each to RM11.50, RM6.60 and RM10.50 respectively.

Pharmaniaga rose 18 sen to RM3.80 as drug makers saw revived interest following the outbreak of the swine fever. Talam was the most active with 91 million shares done, rising 0.5 sen to 10 sen.

Lion Corp added two sen to 39 sen and Lion Diversified one sen to 45.5 sen.

Jewellery maker Yikon fell the most, skidding 22 sen to 45 sen with 6,000 shares done. Other decliners were Hightec, 14.5 sen lower to 67.5 sen, Poh Huat 12 sen to 44 sen and Kotra 5.5 sen to 43.5 sen.