KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): The FBM KLCI eked out limited gains at mid-morning on Thursday as market sentiment remainedcautious ahead of monetary policy meetings at Bank Negara Malaysia as well as the European Central Bank later in the day.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI added 2.67 points to 1,841.96.

The top gainers included included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Guniness Anchor Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Carlsberg Brweerey (M) Bhd, PPB Group Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.

PDZ Holdings Bhd was the most actively traded counter with 46.32 million shares done. The stock rose 3.85% or one sen to 27 sen.

The other actives include Malaysian Airline System Bhd, Asia Bio Bhd, IFCA MSC Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, Tigery Synergy Bhd and Malayan United Industries Bhd.

The top losers included Genting Plantations Bhd, Tenega Nasional Bhd, Ibraco Bhd, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, Tasek Corporation Bhd and Lii Hen Insustries Bhd and Petronas Dagangan Bhd.

Regionally, Asian shares eked out small gains and the dollar was riding high on Thursday after generally solid U.S. economic data and expectations of business-friendly policies following the Republican Party's election victory helped Wall Street shares to finish at a record high, according to Reuters.

The euro was holding near two-year lows although the common currency could see a rebound if European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi scales back his readiness for more stimulus given reports of internal opposition to quantitative easing, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research said U.S. stocks mostly rose overnight, taking benchmarks to historical peaks, a day after elections had Republicans taking control of the Senate and as a report on the jobs market came in better than anticipated.

Meanwhile, it said European shares closed sharply higher after investors learn that the Republican Party had won control of the U.S. Senate in the mid-term elections.

The research house said on the local bourse, the benchmark FBM KLCI fell 8.07 points to 1839.29 points.

It said Asian equity markets were set for gains on Thursday following strong U.S. jobs data, with focus turning towards the European Central Bank.

“Investors will watch movements in the euro as the European Central Bank meets later in the day.

“While no rate move is expected, analysts look for clues on further stimulus amid recent weak data and following the Bank of Japan's surprise easing measures last week.

“We expect the KLCI to rebound towards the resistance of 1,850 points,” it said.