KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): The FBM KLCI paused for a breather this morning in line with its regional peers, following the lack of fresh leads from US and European markets.

Oil and gas-related remained in vogue in early trade this morning as crude oil prices hovered at two–week highs.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI was up 0.11 points to 1,857.43.

The top gainers included Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, DKSH Holdings (M) Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Malaysia Pacific Industyries Bhd and British American Tobacco (M) Bhd.

Asian stocks dipped on Tuesday, their recent recovery slowing after European equities broke a winning streak run, while the dollar held firm after bouncing from three-year lows, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged down 0.1 percent. Australian stocks dipped 0.45 percent, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview said European stocks ended lower overnight amid lower trading volume and quarterly results.

US markets were closed for Presidents' Day holiday.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI surged 19.04 points to 1857.32 points after a sharp rebound.

“Following the bullish momentum, the index could remain buoyed above the support of 1840 points and retest the resistance of 1880 points,” it said.