KUALA LUMPUR (March 12): The FBM KLCI tracked the rally at regional markets today and rose 0.84% at midday break, inching closer to the 1,860-point level.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI gained 15.53 points to 1,859.45.

Gainers led losers by 372 to 223, while 594 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.38 billion shares, valued at RM966.22 million.

The top gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, MBM Resources Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd and Top Glove Corp Bhd.

The actives included SKH Consortium Bhd, NWP Holdings Bhd, Nexgram Holdings Bhd, Iris Corp Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd and Sino Hua-An International Bhd.

The decliners included Lingkaran Trans-Kota Holdings Bhd, PLB Engineering Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Atlan Holdings Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd and SMIS Corp Bhd.

A relief rally swept across Asian share markets on Monday after the latest U.S. jobs report managed to impress with its strength, while also easing fears of inflation and faster rate hikes, a neat feat that whetted risk appetites globally, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 1.1%, for a third session of gains, Reuters said.

Affin Hwang IB senior associate director and head of retail research Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan said regional markets is expected to trade higher today, tracking gains on Wall Street end of last week, following the release of above expectation jobs data.

“Stocks in Bursa Malaysia also anticipated to move in tandem with the regional markets, whilst investors’ sentiments remain mixed.

“Profit-taking activities are expected to rise, as market rebounds, thus may limit the upside,” Dr Nazri said.