KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): The FBM KLCI gained 0.29% at mid-morning today as most regional markets advanced in tandem with the firmer overnight close at Wall Street.

At 10.02am, the FBM KLCI rose 4.87 points to 1,683.67.

The top gainers included Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Apex Healthcare Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Kim Hin Industry Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd, Westports Holdings Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd and MISC Bhd.

The actives included Talam Transform Bhd, Iris Corp Bhd, SapuraKencana, Malaysia Building Society Bhd, HSS Engineers Bhd, Sanichi Technology Bhd, RCE Capital Bhd and Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd.

The decliners included BIMB Holdings Bhd, Latitude Tree Holdings Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Sapura Resources Bhd, IQ Group Bhd, GE Shen Corp Bhd and Heineken Malaysia Bhd.

Asian stocks rose slightly in early Friday trade, taking a cue from Wall Street's records overnight, before switching focus to a run of economic indicators from China, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan nudged up 0.1 percent. It was headed to gain 1.9 percent on the week, having brushed a 1-year high on Wednesday, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said that on the back of stimulus-driven measures by central banks and government, Dow’s record closing overnight, strong rebound in oil prices coupled with recent ringgit strength, the FBM KLCI is likely to advance further to test our next upside targets at 1684-1700.

“However, we see challenging resistances near 1700 as profit taking activities will cap further run-up as indicators would become toppish,” it said.