KUALA LUMPUR (April 11): The FBM KLCI rose 0.41% at mid-morning today, tracking gains at most regional markets.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI rose 7.73 points to 1,868.71.

Gainers led losers by 630 to 135, while 260 counters traded unchanged.

Volume was 1.24 billion shares valued at RM544.03 million.

The gainers included KESM Industries Bhd, Globetronics Technology Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Magni-Tech Industries Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd and Scientex Bhd.

The actives included SKH Consortium Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Sino Hua-An International Bhd, PUC Bhd, UMW Oil & Gas Corp Bhd, Borneo Oil Bhd, Vivocom International Bhd and Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd.

The decliners included Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, Ibraco Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Mega First Corp Bhd, Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd and Apex Healthcare Bhd.

Asian stocks were firm on Wednesday as investors lapped up the positive mood in markets after China's President Xi Jinping helped ease fears over a US-China trade row, while the euro hovered near two-week highs, according to Reuters.

In overnight trade, Wall Street rallied strongly, taking the baton from a solid Asian session that was driven by Xi's speech seen as striking a more conciliatory stance following a week of tit-for-tat tariff threats between Beijing and Washington, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a traders' brief said that on the outlook for the Dow Jones, the near-term buying interest is likely to sustain amid the softer echo from both the US and China.

"Also, investors may be looking beyond the trade war into the April reporting season, the first results after the corporate tax bill passed in December last year. The rebound move on the Dow may revisit the 25,000 level," it said.

On the FBM KLCI, the research house said it anticipates that the positive performance on Wall Street would be able to spill over to the local front, extending yesterday's gains on the small cap and lower liners.

"As expected, tech stocks will be in focus following the steep selldown in the previous weeks," it said.