KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): The FBMKLCI tracked the positive sentiment across the region to end the first trading day of the week in positive territory.  

At the closing bell, the key index was up 3.77 points or 0.22% to settle at 1,700.31, after hitting a high of 1,708.10.

On the broader market, there were 419 advancers versus 412 losers, while 360 counters closed unchanged.

A total of 1.47 billion shares, valued RM1.61 billion, exchanged hands during the day.  

Inter-Pacific Securities' head of research Pong Teng Siew said there was fresh interest in plantation counters, as well as metal- and aluminium-related stocks.

"But there was not much interest seen in oil and gas related stocks, as the excess capacity remains a concern," said Pong.

Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd rose RM1.54 or 2.08% to close at RM75.50; while the top loser was Petronas Dagangan Bhd, which fell 40 sen to RM24.10.  

The most actively-traded stock was Gamuda Bhd's warrant (Gamuda-WE), which fell two sen or 2.07% to close at 94.5 sen.  

On the regional front, Japan's Nikkei 225 ended the day up 1.74%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.17% and South Korea's Kospi inched up 0.04%.  

Asian shares began a central bank-focused week on firm footing today, buoyed by gains on Wall Street, as well as glimmers of strength in weekend data from China, according to Reuters.

However, global investors are expected to remain cautious, ahead of policy decisions by the Bank of Japan on Tuesday (March 15), the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday (March 16) and the Bank of England on Thursday (March 17).