KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26): The FBM KLCI posted limited gains at the midday break today as regional markets turned cautious.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 1.22 points to 1,862.72.The index had earlier risen to its intra-morning high of 1,867.98.

Losers led gainers by 303 to 279, while 652 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.51 billion shares valued at RM1.04 billion.

The top gainers included Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Far East Holdings Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Apex Healthcare Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Co Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd and Kobay Technology Bhd.

The actives included PUC Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, AirAsia X Bhd, Sino Hua-An International Bhd, Green Packet Bhd, DGB Asia Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd and Iris Corp Bhd.

The decliners included Nestle (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, Pintaras Jaya Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Toyo Ink Group Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd.

Asian share markets were in a cautious mood on Monday as investors braced for an event-packed week headlined by US inflation data and the first House testimony by the new head of the Federal Reserve, according to Reuters.

Sentiment was fragile with the US dollar losing early gains and safe-haven bonds firming as E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 turned 0.1% lower, it said.

Affin Hwang IB senior associate director and head of retail research Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan said US stocks rallied, treasuries advanced and the US dollar slipped as investors grew confident that the Jerome Powell-led Federal Reserve would not rush to raise interest rates as the economy picks up steam.

"The S&P 500 index rose by 1.6% to 2,747.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 347.50 points (1.4%) to 25,309.99.

"Meanwhile, our local market is set to trade higher with sentiments remaining largely on GE-14 rally, stocks anticipated to edge higher within a volatile atmosphere.

"Banking, construction as well as oil and gas sectors anticipated to be the focus of investors," he said.