KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 8): The FBM KLCI rose 0.25% at the midday break today, but overall sentiment appeared to be edgy with sellers outpacing buyers.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 4.24 points to 1,723.29.

Losers led gainers by 337 to 230, while 473 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 961.42 million shares valued at RM1.05 billion.

The top gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd and Apex Healthcare Bhd.

The actives included Sapura Energy Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd, Nexgram Holdings Bhd, Green Packet Bhd, KNM Group Bhd, SMTrack Bhd, Dialog Group Bhd and AirAsia Bhd.

The losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Sapura Energy, Halex Holdings Bhd and Tong Herr Resources Bhd.

Asian shares rallied for a second session on Friday as economic news from China and Japan beat all expectations, and investors marvelled at the meteoric ascent of the market's new crypto-star, bitcoin, according to Reuters.

Beijing reported exports surged 12.3% in November from a year earlier, more than double the forecast, while imports climbed almost 18%, it said.

Affin Hwang IB senior associate director and head of retail research Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan said consolidation in the local market continues while sentiments remain soft.

He said the FBM KLCI hardly moved yesterday despite good export numbers announced earlier.

"Market participants are anticipated to focus on window dressing activities and to take advantage on potential short-term rally towards end of the year.

"The index is likely to trade in tight range between 1,700-1,730 levels this month," he said.