KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 ― Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session higher today boosted by gains in Genting and selected blue chips and in tandem with the stronger Asian equities markets, dealers said.

At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 1.17 points to 1,776.74, from yesterday's close of 1,775.57.

The benchmark index moved between 1,775.07 and 1,778.22 throughout the morning session.

On the broader market, however, losers thumped gainers 364 to 353, while 352 counters were unchanged, 720 untraded and 34 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 777.14 million shares worth RM667.21 million.

A dealer said sentiment improved after an increase in oil prices which struggled to climb off a 10-month low on worries of supply glut.

The global benchmark Brent Crude climbed less than 0.1 per cent, or three US cents, to US$44.85 (RM192.24).

Regionally, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.18 per cent to 20,175.43, Singapore's Straits Times Index added 0.7 per cent to 3,224.11 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng increased 0.56 per cent to 25,839.29.

Alliance DBS Research in a note said the FBM KLCI would likely trade below the 1,773.66 level throughout the day.

Among the top gainers were BAT which rose 74 sen to RM44.54, Ajinomoto adding 50 sen to RM23.30, Aeon Credit which expanded 36 sen to RM19.38, Vitrox advancing 32 sen to RM7.93 and Sam Engineering gaining 28 sen to RM7.80.

 AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd recently announced its plan to make the insurance business one of its core segments within the next three years, and launch its e-money platform nationwide by the end of the current financial year 2018, under which the group will offer innovative prepaid cards to customers.

Of the heavyweights, Genting rose 12 sen to RM9.70, PetGas soared 20 sen to RM18.90, RHB increased five sen to RM5.14, Hap Seng gained eight sen to RM9.08.

Maybank and TNB were flat at RM9.59 and RM14.18 respectively, while Axiata and TM declined three sen each to RM4.95 and RM6.62.

Among actives, Iris improved one sen to 16 sen, Frontken inched up 1.5 sen to 30.5 sen, Comfort Gloves advanced 5.5 sen to 84.5 sen, while Bumi Armada eased 2.5 sen to 68.5 sen, Hibiscus slid one sen to 38 sen and Panpages was flat at 31.5 sen.

The FBM Emas Index perked 8.28 points to 12,624.04, the FBMT100 Index expanded 7.03 points to 12,270.15, while the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 8.21 points to 12,821.65.

The FBM 70 climbed 4.69 points to 14,909.29, and the FBM Ace rose 52.62 points to 6,188.26.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index leapt 18.93 points to 16,842.66, the Industrial Index was up 4.52 points to 3,276.20, while the Plantation Index was 3.45 points weaker at 7,924.27. ― Bernama