KUALA LUMPUR (July 24): The FBM KLCI pared some of its gains at mid-morning but remained in positive zone in line with regional markets, propped by gains at Genting-linked stocks.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI was up 1.93 points at 1,657.60. The index had earlier risen to a high of 1,658.66.

Gainers led losers by 331 to 184, while 307 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 823.55 million shares valued at RM445.45 million.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Genting Malaysia Bhd, Genting Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Yinson Holdings Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, G3 Global Bhd, DRB-Hicom Bhd and Guan Chong Bhd.

The actives included Priceworth International Bhd, KNM Group Bhd, Reach Energy Bhd, Green Packet Bhd, Genting Malaysia and Scomi Group Bhd.

The decliners included Latitude Tree Holdings Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Sarawak Plantations Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Paramount Corp Bhd and Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd.

Asian shares nudged higher on Wednesday amid hints of progress in the Sino-US trade saga, while the US dollar hit two-month highs on the euro as investors wagered on a dovish outcome from the European Central Bank's upcoming policy meeting, according to Reuters.

Sentiment had been helped by a Bloomberg report that US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer would travel to Shanghai next week for meetings with Chinese officials, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said the ongoing reporting season in the US is likely to provide sustainable upward momentum for Wall Street, given several Dow Jones members have registered better-than-expected results.

"In addition, the resumption of trade talks between US and China may provide some optimism towards trading sentiment, at least in the near term.

"Taking cues from the US as well as positive trade-related news flow that both the US and China will be resuming trade talks, we expect buying interest to pick up on the local front and could lift the KLCI higher to potentially retest the 1,680 level.

"At the same time, traders will be looking out for trading opportunities within the technology sector as volumes were picking up strongly over the weeks," it said.