KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 13): The FBM KLCI reversed its earlier loss and edged up at the midday break on Thursday as regional markets steadied ahead of Chinese and Japanese economic indicators.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI added 1.07 points to 1,817.31. The index had earlier fallen to its intra morning low of 1,814.35.

The top gainers in the morning session included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, CB Industrial Product Holdings Bhd, Danainfra Nasional Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Batu Kawan Bhd, Focus Lumber Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

Minetech Resources Bhd was the most actively traded counter with 45.16 million shares done. The stock was flat at 16 sen.

The other actives include Dagang Nexchange Bhd, Malaysian Airline System Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd, Nova MSC Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd and SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd.

The decliners included Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Aeon Credit Services (M) Bhd, Petra Energy Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery (M) Bhd and Tasek Corporation Bhd.

Regionally, Asian shares mostly steadied on Thursday as investors awaited a flurry of Chinese economic indicators later in the day, but energy stocks slumped after oil prices fell to four-year lows, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked up 0.1 percent, it said.

M & A Securities research head Rosnani Rasul said Wall Street hit the brake and ended mildly lower on Wednesday injured by profit taking activity.

She said the breathing space in Wall Street may influence the regional and local markets today as investors may turn risk averse ahead of Eurozone and Malaysia’s 3Q14 GDP release tomorrow.

“In any case, we don’t foresee a robust Eurozone GDP numbers tomorrow due to the strong Euro and also weak consumers spending.

“As for Malaysia, the moderation of export growth in third quarter may weigh on performance. All in, we foresee some moderate risk taking activity and appetite today,” she said.