KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 23): The FBM KLCI made very slight inroad at the midday break on Monday as regional markets remained lacklustre in post-holiday trades.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 0.92 points to 1,808.79, easing from its intra-morning high of 1,811.29.

Losers led gainers by 337 to 307, while 286 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.24 billion shares valued at RM744.33 million.

The top gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Latitude Trees Holdings Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Bhd, MISC Bhd and Lafarge Malaysia Bhd.

The actively traded counters included Hubline Bhd, Wintoni Group Bhd, Kanger International Bhd, Perisai Petroleum Teknologi Bhd, Asia Bio Energy Technologies Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd and Kronologi Asia Bhd.

The top losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd, Negeri Sembilan Oil Palms Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Ibraco Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd and Tasek Corporation Bhd.

An index of Asian shares got off to a lacklustre start on Monday as many countries in the region returned from Lunar New Year holidays, with sentiment supported by relief that Greece reached a deal to avert an immediate fiscal crisis, according to Reuters.

Euro zone ministers late on Friday agreed to extend Greece's financial rescue package by four months, a shorter extension than the six months the country had sought. Although an initial relief over the last-minute deal boosted Wall Street shares to record highs late on Friday, Asian markets as a whole saw little follow-up buying, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said the FBM KLCI was expected to test 1820 levels this week following a record Dow and positive Greece debt deal but to expect stiff resistance near 1831 or 200-day moving average.

“Supports fall on 1,790-1,800,” it said.