KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 ― Bursa Malaysia reversed earlier losses to turn higher at mid-morning, as bargain hunting took place in selected blue chips.

At 11.10am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 2.21 points firmer at 1,858.41 points, after opening 3.64 points easier at 1,852.56 from yesterday's close of 1,856.20.

Market breadth, however, remained negative, as losers overtook gainers 535 to 264, while 355 counters remained unchanged, 695 untraded and 22 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.43 billion shares worth RM723.41 million.

Of the heavyweights, CIMB rose nine sen to RM7.28, Sime Darby Plantation improved 11 sen to RM5.46, Genting Bhd added 19 sen to RM9.04, IHH was seven sen better at RM5.98 and Axiata bagged three sen to RM5.43.

Among the active counters, Sumatec and Vivocom lost one sen each to seven sen and eight sen respectively, Daya Materials eased three sen to four sen, while HB Global ticked up 7.5 sen to 15.5 sen and Hibiscus advanced 3.5 sen to 97 sen.

Panasonic topped the gainers list by accumulating RM1.30 to RM35.00, followed by Dutch Lady which leapt 36 sen to RM66.96 as United Plantations added 28 sen to RM28.78, with Top Glove 27 sen higher at RM9.98. KLK perked 22 sen to RM25.26.

The FBM Emas Index increased 9.84 points to 13,228.09, the FBMT 100 Index improved 11.79 points to 12,934.55, the FBM Emas Shariah Index edged up 5.39 points to 13,432.90 and the FBM 70 was 2.65 points better at 16,117.15.

The FBM Ace declined 33.92 points to 6,172.92.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Index was 0.04 of-a-point lower at 3,227.97, the Finance Index fell 14.38 points to 18,248.71, while the Plantation Index gained 65.88 points to 8,057.35 . ― Bernama