KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI was marginally higher at midday on July 21, with PPB and KLK among the gainers but the broader market was mostly lower amid profit taking on stocks which had run up since last week.

At 12.30pm, the 30-stock FBM KLCI rose 0.83 point to 1,140.08 after volatile trading in an 11 point band. It fell to an intra-morning low while it hit an intra-session high of 1,144.24.

Turnover was 519.49 million shares valued at RM760.67 million. There were 197 gainers, 319 losers and 240 stocks unchanged.

Key Asian markets were also slightly higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.73% to 9,557.67 amid news that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso dissolved parliament's lower house for an election on Aug. 30 and vowed to restore voters' faith in his fractious ruling party, which polls show is in danger of a historic defeat.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.2% to 19,539.83 and Singapore Straits Times Index added 0.5% to 2,469.19 while Shanghai’s Composite Index fell 0.53% to 3,249.53.

Light crude oil fell 15 cents to US$63.83 while crude palm oil futures lost RM17 to RM2,143.

Among plantation related stocks, PPB rose 40 sen to RM13 and KL Kepong added 20 sen to RM12.30. BAT added 25 sen to RM45.25, Tanjong 20 sen to RM14.40 while KFCH added 15 sen to RM7.15 and QSR 10 sen to RM2.82.

KNM was the most with 37 million shares done, adding 0.5 sen to 84.5 sen.

Astro fell 10 sen to RM3.32 in active, extending its losses from the previous day.

DiGi was the top loser, falling 30 sen to RM22 while Tenaga, Public Bank foreign and Public Bank shed 10 sen each to RM8.35, RM10.10 and RM10.20. BCHB shed 10 sen to RM10.