KUALA LUMPUR (May 25): The FBM KLCI notched up marginal gains with a downward bias at mid-morning today as declining counters outpaced gainers.

At 10.01am, the FBM KLCI added 2.35 points to 1,628.19.

The top gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Ajiya Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd, Globetronics Technology Bhd and Public Bank Bhd.

The actives included AirAsia X Bhd, O & C Resources Bhd, Vsolar Group Bhd, XOX Bhd, Hiap Teck Resources Bhd, AWC Holdings Bhd and Tiger Synergy Bhd.

The top losers included Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, Boustead Holdings Bhd, Genting Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and Time Dotcom Bhd.

Asian shares gained on Wednesday, taking cues from sharp gains in European and U.S. financial shares while the dollar was underpinned as investors count on the U.S. Federal Reserve to hike U.S. interest rates in coming months, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4 percent while Japan's Nikkei jumped 1.7 percent, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research said US markets surged over 1% after April's new home sales jumped 16.6%.

It said that similarly, European stocks rallied after being led by banks, insurers and retail counters.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI tumbled 9.05 points to 1625.84 points.

“Following the bullish performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI is expected to rise today with support at 1615 points,” it said.