KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): Bursa Malaysia was positive at midday on Monday, with the key index 4.36 points up, supported by buying activities in the utilities and financial services counter.

At midday, Tenaga Nasional Bhd added 18 sen to RM11.70, YTL Corp Bhd grew four sen to RM2.65, and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd rose four sen to RM6.67, contributing a combined 3.19 points to the composite index.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased by 0.28% to 1,559.61 from last Friday’s close of 1,555.25.

The benchmark index opened 1.53 points higher at 1,556.78 and moved between 1,554.15 and 1,559.64 throughout the morning trading session.

On the broader market, decliners marginally beat gainers 458 to 455, while 472 counters were unchanged, 946 untraded and nine others suspended.

Turnover amounted to 2.56 billion units worth RM1.17 billion.

Brokerage firm Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd believes that with the rebound on Wall Street, the Malaysian stock market can maintain its upbeat tone for Monday's session.

“Traders should focus on commodity-related sectors such as oil and gas, plantation and gold, with the respective commodity prices trending higher,” it said in a note on Monday.

In addition, it anticipates that the momentum within the construction, property and building material sectors may continue, given the likelihood of more mega infrastructure projects being announced this year.

At noon break, Malayan Banking Bhd added three sen to RM9.67, Public Bank Bhd edged up one sen to RM4.19, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd gained two sen to RM6.87, and IHH Healthcare Bhd was two sen higher at RM6.07, while CelcomDigi Bhd was flat at RM4.23.

Among the actives, SBH Marine Holdings Bhd added 4.5 sen to 26.5 sen, Niche Capital Emas Holdings Bhd gained one sen to 15 sen, PUC Bhd was flat at 5.5 sen, while Velesto Energy Bhd declined one sen to 27 sen, and KNM Group Bhd dropped 0.5 sen to eight sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index garnered 36.89 points to 11,740.07, the FBMT 100 Index climbed 37.07 points to 11,375.81, the FBM Emas Shariah Index was 34.55 points firmer at 11,900.65, and the FBM 70 Index surged 75.05 points to 16,407.12 while the FBM ACE Index fell by 6.83 points to 4,974.76.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.06 of-a-point to 185.12, the Financial Services Index improved by 65.83 points to 17,305.25, while the Plantation Index decreased by 6.73 points to 7,453.36, and the Energy Index dipped by 4.72 points to 962.78.