KUALA LUMPUR (March 12): The FBM KLCI was up 0.42% and stayed above the 1,850-point level at mid-morning today, tracking gains at key regional markets.

At 10.05am, the FBM KLCI was up 7.87 points to 1,851.79.

Gainers led losers by 418 to 199, while 300 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 627.12 million shares valued at RM315.92 million.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, British Americamn Tobacco (M) Bhd and MBM Resources Bhd.

The actives included SKH Consortium Bhd, NWP Holdings Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Berjaya Corp Bhd, Iris Corp Bhd, Nexgram Holdings Bhd, Sino Hua-An Interational Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd and Vivocom International Bhd,

The decliners included PLB Engineering Bhd, SMIS Corp Bhd, Ann Joo Resources Bhd and Hengyuan warrant.

A relief rally swept across Asian share markets on Monday after the latest U.S. jobs report managed to impress with its strength while also easing fears of inflation and faster rate hikes, a neat feat that whetted risk appetites globally, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan firmed 0.4 percent. Japan's Nikkei jumped 2 percent, while South Korea rose 0.8 percent, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a traders’ brief said that in the US, Wall Street could advance higher amid the easing concerns on the import tariffs after Trump signed it with Mexico and Canada being exempted.

“The next major event to be focused will be on the FOMC meeting and traders will be looking forward to the interest rates outlook for 2018.

“Meanwhile, following the bullish tone on Wall Street, we think stocks on the local front may extend the buying support after stabilizing last week near the 1,840 level.

“We anticipate that traders may focus on oil and gas sector following the rebound in crude oil,” it said.