KUALA LUMPUR (June 22): The FBM KLCI gained 0.07% at the midday break today but remained below the 1,780-point level, as buyers and sellers were evenly matched.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 1.17 points to 1,776.74. The index had earlier risen to a high of 1,778.22.

Gainers edged losers by 301 to 294, while 474 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 777.14 million shares valued at RM667.21 million.

The top gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, ViTrox Corp Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd, PMB Technology Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Genting Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.

The actives included Iris Corp Bhd, Frontken Corp Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Nexgram Holdings Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Comfort Gloves Bhd and PUC Founder (MSC) Bhd.

The decliners included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd and UEM Edgenta Bhd.

Asian stocks advanced on Thursday as oil prices struggled to climb off a 10-month low hit overnight on concerns over a supply glut and falling demand, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.3%, it said.

AffinHwang Capital Research said stocks on Bursa Malaysia are anticipated to continue to test their resistances till a reversal signal appears.

"With Malaysia's General Election obviously in the pipeline, we anticipate that any pullbacks in the near future should be perceived as opportunity to buy quality stocks on dip because some elements of surprise may emerge to spark strong rally in the market, particularly starting 2H17," it said.

"Buy on weakness," it said.