KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 1): The FBM KLCI advanced at the midday break today in line with the strength at most global markets.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI rose 5.60 points to 1,626.64.

Gainers led losers by 356 to 273, while 276 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 785.77 million shares valued at RM666.09 million.

The top gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Magni-Tech Industries Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Metrod Holdings Bhd, Selangor Properties Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment Bhd, Asia File Corporation Bhd and IJM Plantations Bhd.

The actively traded stocks included AirAsia Bhd, Aemulus Holdings Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd, The Media Shoppe Bhd, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd.

The decliners included United Plantations Bhd, Ibraco Bhd, Uzma Bhd, KLCC Property Holdings Bhd, Lii Hen Industries Bhd, Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd and DKSH (M) Holdings Bhd.

Asian stocks rose on Thursday, drawing strength from overnight gains in global equities markets following their weakest quarter in four years, and a China factory activity survey that came in slightly better than initially expected, according to Reuters.

The final Caixin/Markit China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for September was slightly down from August but was a touch higher than a preliminary reading, data released on Thursday showed, it said.

AffinHwang Capital Research said the local market was expected to continue consolidating sideways with upward bias while hoping budget 2016 will give a handful of positive catalysts.

"Janet Yellen reiterates her intention to raise rate, Japan struggles to avoid deflationary, while China focusing on its slowing economy are actually sending mixed signals to the market.

"Technically, the FBM KLCI has been firming up positively above 1,600, higher highs and higher lows, a good level for long-term investors to consider bottom fish," it said.

(Note: The Edge Research's fundamental score reflects a company’s profitability and balance sheet strength, calculated based on historical numbers. The valuation score determines if a stock is attractively valued or not, also based on historical numbers. A score of 3 suggests strong fundamentals and attractive valuations.)