KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): The FBM KLCI rose 0.29% at mid-morning today, lifted by select blue chips, in line with the advance at most regional markets.

At 10.05am, the FBM KLCI was up 5.51 points to 1,859.95.

Losers led gainers by 317 to 255, while 270 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 671.04 million shares valued at RM413.07 million.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Far East Holdings Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd.

The actives included My E.G. Services Bhd, Hubline Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Eduspec Holdings Bhd, Fitters Diversified Bhd, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd, George Kent (M) Bhd and WCT Holdings Bhd.

The losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, PM Technology Bhd, Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings Bdh, Tasco Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd and Batu Kawan Bhd.

Asian stocks edged up on Friday as investors kept a cautious watch on developments in U.S.-China trade negotiations, while the dollar was perched near a five-month peak against a basket of currencies thanks to the benchmark U.S. Treasury yield topping a seven-year high, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.05 percent higher. The index was headed for a 1 percent loss this week, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said in the US, there are still some uncertainties related to the unresolved trade issues between US and China.

“Moreover, the 10-year Treasury yield could spark some cautious tone in the stock markets as it trend above the 3.10% yesterday.

“On the local bourse, we expect the trading activities to tone down after a euphoric trading on Monday (post-GE14).

“Stocks may succumb to profit taking activities as short term players may be locking in profits over the near term.

“Nevertheless, oil and gas stocks are still attractive amid the firmer Brent crude oil trend (retested US$80 overnight),”it said.