KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): The FBM KLCI remained buoyed and rose 0.33% in early trade this morning, lifted by Public Bank Bhd and other index-linked blue chips.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI rose 6.15 points to 1.864.41.

The early gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Padini Holdings Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd and APM Automotive Bhd.

Asian shares held steady on Thursday, while the euro struggled near five-month lows set a day earlier following a report that Italian populist parties trying to form a coalition could ask the European Central Bank to forgive 250 billion euros of debt, according to Reuters.

In equity markets, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was little changed, while Japan's Nikkei gained 0.4 percent and South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.4 percent, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview said US markets ended higher overnight, led by consumer counters following strong earnings by retailer Macy's.

It said that earlier, European stocks advanced except for Italy due to political concerns.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI rose 10.06 points to 1858.26 points.

“Following the positive performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI is expected to remain buoyed with an eye on the resistance of 1880 points,” it said.