KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): The FBM KLCI gained 0.35% in early trade this morning, tracking the uptrend at regional markets, lifted by gains at index-linked heavyweights Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd.

At 9.10am, the FBM KLCI rose 5.43 points to 1,571.66.

The early gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd. UMW Holdings Bhd, Genting Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd and Westports Holdings Bhd.

Asian shares took off on Wednesday and sterling held near six-month highs as Britain and the EU made headway on a Brexit deal ahead of a leaders' summit though it remained unclear if London could avoid postponing its scheduled departure on Oct. 31, according to Reuters.

Officials and diplomats involved in negotiations over the acrimonious divorce between the world's fifth-largest economy and its biggest trading bloc said that differences over the terms of the split had narrowed significantly, it said.

CGS-CIMB Retail Research said the FBMKLCI closed 1.36 points lower yesterday, but overall sentiment remained slightly positive with 410 gainers outpacing 391 losers.

“The local market may enjoy the positive spillover effect today from the overnight rebound in Wall Street. Resistance: 1,580 & 1,600. Support: 1,540 & 1,500,” it said.