KUALA LUMPUR (July 27): The FBM KLCI crossed the 1,770-point threshold but gains remained muted, as sellers and buyers were evenly matched.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI rose 4.59 points to 1,770.59. The index had earlier risen to its intra-morning high of 1,772.03.

Losers edged gainers by 300 to 294, while 393 counters traded unhanged. Volume was 720.77 million shares, valued at RM751.24 million.

The gainers included Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, JHM Consolidation Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd, MMC Corp Bhd, Superlon Holdings Bhd and Scientex Bhd.

The actives included Vivocom Intl Holdings Bhd, Hubline Bhd, ManagePay Systems Bhd, Frontken Corp Bhd, Kronologi Asia Bhd, Priceworth International Bhd, CIMB, Dialog Group Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd.

The decliners included Atlan Holdings Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd and HCK Capital Group Bhd.

Stocks, bonds and commodities were all on a roll in Asia on Thursday, as bulls scented a softening in the Federal Reserve's confidence on inflation that promised to keep U.S. interest rates low for longer than some had expected, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.9% to heights not seen since December 2007. It has gained over 5% so far this month, Reuters said.

Affin Hwang IB vice president and head of retail research Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan said regional markets opened mostly higher this morning, after the U.S Federal Reserve chose to keep rates unchanged and signaled inflation remains persistently below its target, even as the economy picks up steam.

“U.S treasuries rose, the dollar fell and crude oil prices surged higher, thus bullish sentiments on O&G related stocks continue.

“The FBM KLCI is anticipated to trade higher, in tandem with the regional market.

“Be prepared for upward surprises in Bursa Malaysia, small and mid-cap stocks are expected to increase their rotational play, whilst steady accumulation in larger cap is expected to continue,” Nazri said.