KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 15): The FBM KLCI opened higher today in line with the uptrend at most regional markets and the higher overnight close at Wall Street.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI rose 1.59 points to 1,635.03.

The top gainers included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Shell refining Company (Federation of Malaya) Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, IHH Healthcare Bhd, Inari Amertron Bhd, IOI Corporation Bhd, Genting Malaysia Bhd and SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd.

Asian stocks won a temporary reprieve on Friday after oil prices snapped their eight-day rout, helping to lift battered energy shares even as investors remained on edge as they looked for signs of stability in China's economy and its volatile markets, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan , which hit a four-year low on Thursday, rose 0.5 percent while Japan's Nikkei jumped 1.8 percent, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets rallied overnight after oil price rebounded over 2%.

It said that earlier, European stocks declined sharply after bomb attacks in Jakarta.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI declined 9.10 points to 1633.44 points.

“Following the rebound in Wall Street led by oil prices, the FBM KLCI is expected to be positive today and climb towards its resistance of 1,645 points,” it said.