Kenanca and KNM also rose in active trade while there were many blocks of their shares were traded off-market.

At 12.30pm, the 30-stock FBM KLCI rose 3.02 points to 1,206.38. Turnover was 277.11 million shares valued at RM438.48 million. There were 266 gainers, 197 losers and 247 stocks unchanged.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.18% to 10,220.69; Shanghai's Composite Index nearly unchanged at 3,025.73 while Singapore's Straits Times Index added 0.49% to 2,652.67. Hong Kong was closed due to the typhoon and resumes at 2.30pm.

Light crude oil slipped 20 cents to US$68.60 while crude palm oil futures rose RM39 to RM2,103.

Plantations-related PPB rose the most, up 42 sen to RM15.98, KL Kepong four sen to RM13.72 but Far East fell 22 sen to RM6.30, Genting Plantations 11 sen to RM5.89 and IOI Corp shed three sen to RM5.25.

Consumer stocks were among the major gainers, with Nestle piling on 38 sen to RM33.80, QSR 26 sen to RM3.25 and Proton 14 sen to RM3.85 on hopes of a corporate exercise involving DRB Hicom.

Jetson jumped 34 sen to RM1.96 and Jetson-WA 16.5 sen to 93.5 sen in heavy trade.

KNM was the most active, up three sen to 72.5 sen with 35.3 million shares done. Kenanca added 12 sen to RM2.12 as analysts were optimistic about its possibility of securing more contracts.

Kurnia Asia rose four sen to 67 sen after analysts upgraded the insurer.

Cepco fell the most, tumbling 59 sen to RM2.51 with 1,500 shares done. Amway fell 13 sen to RM7.30, Impaspro 12 sen to 90 sen and Aeon 10 sen to RM4.59.