KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 15): The FBM KLCI gained 0.44% at mid-morning today, lifted by select blue chips in line with slight advance at regional markets.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI rose 7.57 points to 1,718.71.

The top gainers included Ajiya Bhd, MISC Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Allianz (M) Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and Top Glove Corporation Bhd.

The actively traded stocks included Idimension Consolidated Bhd, Privasia Technology Bhd, Frontken Corporation Bhd, Iris Corporation Bhd, XOX Bhd, AirAsia Bhd, KNM Group Bhd and UEM Sunrise Bhd.

The top losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Rapid Synergy Bhd, Keck Seng (Malaysia) Bhd, Apollo Holdings Bhd, Latitude Tree Holdings Bhd, Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd and Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd.

Asian shares rose on Thursday and the dollar struggled near multi-week lows after weak U.S. economic data added to expectations that the Federal Reserve will delay hiking interest rates, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4 percent. The index fell the previous day after soft consumer inflation in China added to concerns about the world's second-biggest economy, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said as the FBM KLCI had surged 13.8% or 208 points since hitting a low of 1503 on Aug 24 to 1,711 on Oct 13, it was ripe for pullback, tracking profit taking consolidations in MSCI Asia Pacific index, Dow and Brent oil prices.

“Sentiment will remain cautious as Ringgit resumed its downtrend against the greenback as it had weakened 1.7% in the last three sessions.

“Key resistances are 1729-1741 while supports fall on 1686-1700,” it said.