KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 ― The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) remained higher at mid-morning today in tandem with the improved performance of regional peers, dealers said.

At 11.01am, the FBM KLCI rose 5.26 points to 1,785.91 after opening 0.58 of a point easier at 1,779.96.

A dealer said Asian stock markets were on an uptrend this morning following the positive overnight close of Wall Street and ahead of a flurry of meetings of the US Federal Reserve.

“Stocks on Wall Street reported an increase of one per cent yesterday as investors cheered a pause in the US dollar's rally.

“They were also focusing on the renewed weakness in oil prices ahead of the Feds monetary policy meeting,” he added.

On other scoreboards, the FBM Emas Index increased 25.42 points to 12,286.38, the FBMT100 Index rose 25.84 points to 11,971.40, and the FBM Emas Syariah Index improved 21.58 points to 12,886.42.

The FBM Ace advanced 50.69 points to 7,084.32, the Industrial Index bagged 15.72 points to 3,276.77, and the FBM 70 expanded 7.25 points to 13,234.86.

The Finance Index improved 17.81 points to 15,871.57 but the Plantation Index fell 21.58 points to 7,731.87.

Market breadth was negative as losers outpaced gainers 334 to 251, with 327 counters unchanged, 853 counters untraded and 20 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.15 billion shares worth RM472.61 million.    

Of the heavyweights, Maybank rose two sen to RM9.11, TNB gained four sen to RM14.66, Public Bank improved two sen to RM18.36, while Axiata was one sen lower at RM7.02.

Among the actives, Eti Tech went down 1.5 sen to 11 sen, PUC Founder inched up 1.5 sen to 17.5 sen, Privasia rose two sen to 31 sen and Ingenuity was one sen higher at eight sen. ― Bernama