KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI stayed in positive territory at the mid-day break and snapped its two day negative streak, in line with most key regional markets that pared down some of their earlier losses on Thursday, April 7.

Gains at the regional markets, however, were limited.

The FBM KLCI added 5.01 points to 1,557.90, lifted by gains including at DiGi, HLFG and Hong Leong Bank.

Gainers led losers by 390 to 296, while 312 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 857.62 million shares valued at RM1.03 billion.

The ringgit weakened 0.12% to 3.0280 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil for the third month delivery fell RM45 to RM3,325, crude oil shed 43 cents per barrel to US$108.40 while gold fell US$5.55 per troy ounce to US$1,454.15.

Asian shares were lacklustre, with the Nikkei rising, as investors who had bet on the falls of recent days realised their gains, but markets elsewhere in the region were flat, according to Reuters.

Brent crude oil eased off a two-and-a-half year peak struck amid worries about war in Libya and unrest in the Middle East, it said.

At the regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei edged up 0.03% to 9,587.08, the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.11% to 3,004.65 and Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.15% to 8,865.59.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shed 0.04% to 24,275.36, South Korea’s Kospi down 0.32% to 2,119.81 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.20% to 3,164.00.

On Bursa Malaysia, DiGi was the top gainer this morning and was up 58 sen to RM29.38; Nestle added 40 sen to RM48, Panasonic 30 sen to RM23, Carlsberg 23 sen to RM7.82, HLFG 21 sen to RM9.32, Hong Leong Bank 20 sen to RM10.30, PacificMas 17 sen to RM4.33, BHIC and JobStreet up 15 sen each to RM4.35 and RM2.68, while F&N rose 14 sen to RM15.84.

Perisai was the most actively traded counter with 32.25 million shares done. The stock added two sen to 88.5 sen.

Other actives included Karambunai, SAAG, JCY International, ManagePay Systems, MAA, MK Land and Scomi.

Losers included Subur Tiasa, Milux, Iretex, Sarawak Plantations, Ekovest, Nakamichi, Daibochi, Dayang and Hartalega.