KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 ―The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) traded 0.24 per cent higher at mid-morning today, in tandem with most regional peers.

At 11am, the key index was 4.42 points better at 1,813.81, after opening 2.62 points higher at 1,812.01.

Asian indices mostly rose early today, dislodging the earlier cautious sentiment, following a mixed overnight finish on Wall Street due to lower energy prices.

Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.14 per cent to 18,492.83, Hong Kong's Hang Seng improved 0.02 per cent to 24,836.76.

The China market remained closed for the Chinese New Year holiday.     

On the home front, the FBM Emas Index advanced 31.45 points to 12,501.71, the FBMT100 Index increased 31.76 points to 12,177.50 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index added 34.26 points to 13,032.22.

The FBM 70 rose 43.16 points to 13,517.36.But, the FBM Ace eased 36.09 points to 6,645.40.

Sectoral wise, the Finance Index rose 24.94 points to 15,896.33, the Plantation Index climbed 3.81 points to 8,109.53 and the Industrial Index advanced 32.19 points to 3,289.52. 

Market breadth was however negative as decliners outpaced gainers 303 to 288, while 280 counters were unchanged, 894 untraded and 12 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 927.69 million shares worth RM533.42 million.   

Key index components, Maybank improved five sen to RM9.08, while Public Bank Bhd gained two sen to RM18.32, and Tenaga edged upward six sen to RM14.22.

Among actives, Asia Bioenergy slipped half-a-sen to 13.5 sen, Wintoni eased 1.5 sen to 15.5 sen, R & A Telecommunication was flat at 4.5 sen, while Diversified Gateway and Kanger were down half-a-sen each to 12.5 sen and 40.5 sen, respectively.

Dutch Lady led the top gainers, adding 64 sen to RM46.98, while the top loser was Panasonic, which fell 38 sen to RM20.60. ― Bernama