KUALA LUMPUR (April 6): The FBM KLCI advanced at mid-morning today, lifted by select blue chips in line with the uptrend at regional markets.

At 10.03am, the FBM KLCI added 5.89 points to 1,840.41.

The top gainers included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Amway (M) Holdings Bhd, IHH Healthcare Bhd, Pestech International Bhd, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, RHB Capital Bhd and Public Bank Bhd.

The actively traded stocks included Ingenuity Consolidated Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd, Iris Corporation Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, Systech Bhd, APFT Bhd and Pasukhas Group Bhd.

The decliners included Panasonic Malaysia Manufacturing Bhd, Kossan Rubber Indsustries Bhd, Pharmaniaga Holdings Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Bhd and Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd.

Asian shares rose and the dollar dropped on Monday, after a dismal U.S. jobs report pushed up U.S. Treasury yields as investors pared bets the U.S. Federal Reserve would hike interest rates anytime soon, according to Reuters.

Labor Department data showed U.S. employers added the fewest jobs in more than a year in March. The rise of 126,000 jobs was well below expectations for a gain of 245,000, according to a Reuters poll of economists, it said.

BIMB Securities Research  said Europe and US markets were closed for Easter holiday on Friday.

Meanwhile, it said key Asian indexes ended mostly higher with sharp increase in China and Japan thanks to late bargain hunting that salvaged an earlier falling market.

The research house said the SHCOMP gained 1.0% to 3,863.93. In Tokyo, the Nikkei added 0.63% to 19,435.08.

“Locally, the FBM KLCI gained 0.14% to 1,834.52 with strong gains mostly in telco stocks.

“Trading participation saw net buying by foreign institutions while local institutions and retail were net sellers.

“We expect the local market to remain positive today as we still maintain our 2015 target at 1,850 for now, driven by strong buying interest from foreign investors. Expect to see immediate resistance at 1,840/4,” it said.