KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): The FBM KLCI sustained its meagre gains at mid-morning today against the backdrop of firmer regional markets.

At 10.12am, the FBM KLCI was up 1.09 points to 1,664.01.

The gainers included Genting Malaysia Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Aeon Credit Services (M) Bhd, UOA Development Bhd, Tien Wah Press Holdings Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd, Econpile Holdings Bhd and DKSH Holdings (M) Bhd.

The actives included Perak Transit Bhd, Nexgram Holdings Bhd, Perisai Petroleum Teknologi Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, Iris Corp Bhd and SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd.

The top losers included Top Glove Corp Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Enro Group Bhd, IOI Corp Bhd, KPJ Healthcare Bhd and Maxis Bhd.

Asian shares firmed on Thursday, encouraged by stronger U.S. economic data and a rise in oil prices, while growing prospects of a U.S. rate hike hit gold and the boosted the dollar to one-month highs versus the yen, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2 percent while Japan's Nikkei gained 0.9 percent, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said that in the wake of overnight Dow’s rebound and rally in oil prices, it expects the FBM KLCI to continue its technical rebound today.

“Despite nagging uncertainty over the Fed rate hike and potential ringgit weakening (vs US Dollar) in the short term, sentiment is likely to be supported by positive expectations of Budget 2017 and the readiness of BNM to support economic growth via easing,” it said.