KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5): The FBM KLCI ticked up 0.18% at noon break today, tracking gains at most regional markets, lifted by select index-linked stocks.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI added 2.86 points to 1,563.79.

Gainers led losers by 355 to 216, while 476 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.24 billion shares, valued at RM693.78 million.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Chin Teck Plantations Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, Public Bank Bhd and Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd.

The actives included Sapura Energy Bhd, Khee San Bhd, Solarvest Holdings Bhd, Sanichi Technology Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd and MCT Bhd.

The losers included Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd, IGB Bhd and Hong Leong Bank Bhd.

Stock markets in Asia gained on Thursday, on hopes China and the United States may soon seal a preliminary deal to end their 17-month trade war, but conflicting signals from U.S. President Donald Trump kept a lid on investor optimism, according to Reuters.

Hopes an agreement would soon emerge stemmed from a Bloomberg report on Wednesday that the two sides were close to a "phase one" deal, and U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks that the talks were going "very well" after he had earlier said it might take until late 2020 to reach an accord, Reuters said.

Affin Hwang Capital Research said the FBMKLCI Index turned slightly lower in yesterday’s session, shedding 1.34 points or 0.09%, closing at 1560.93.

“Our local market was down most of yesterday’s trading session but was supported towards the end of the session, particularly by Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd.

“MACD indicator continue to slide, downward momentum remains. Overall, anticipate the index to remain weak in the near future and any rebound perceived to be short lived.

“Prevailing downward trend resumes. Index to retest 1550 in the near term,” it said.