KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 —  Bursa Malaysia remained in positive territory at mid-day, supported by gains in crude oil prices  and buying  in blue chip stocks  led by Genting Malaysia and Petronas-related companies,  dealers said.

At 12.30pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 2.44 points better at 1,770.72 from the 1,768.98 at close on Friday.

After opening 3.87 points higher at 1,772.15 this morning, the index moved between 1,768.98 and 1,773.96 throughout the session.

On market breadth, gainers led losers 501 to 381, with 353 counters unchanged, 514 untraded and 20 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 2.38 billion shares worth RM1.33 billion.

A dealer said Asian stocks extended gains today, supported by higher crude oil prices which stayed above US$50 (RM215.40) a barrel, and on expectations of a supply cut  being further extended.

The local bourse also remained positive on the back of  Malaysia’s better-than-expected Gross Domestic Product data released last Friday, coupled with the rebound on overseas markets.

“But  uncertainties over the sustainability of US President Donald Trump’s market reforms, kept the local market on a cautious mode,” he said.

For heavyweights, Maybank shed three sen to RM9.32, Petronas Chemical  improved three sen to RM7.36, while TNB, Public Bank and Sime Darby were flat at RM13.78 and RM20.00 and RM9.31 respectively. 

Of the actives, Key Alliance Group and its warrant added half-a-sen each to 4.5 sen and three sen respectively,  AirAsia X rose 2.5 sen to 53.5 sen, Netx Holdings gained one sen to eight sen and Dagang Nexchange warrant improved 1.5 sen to 35 sen.

Among top gainers today, SP Setia and Choo Bee metal were up 28 sen to RM3.98 and RM2.40 each, Petronas Dagangan added 26 sen to RM25.02, Petronas Gas gained 24 sen to RM19.24 and ViTrox Corp improved 22 sento RM6.48.

The FBM Emas Index bagged 28.04 points to 12,331.05 and the FBMT 100 Index rose 23.88 points to 12,331.05, as the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 40.08 points to 13,049.57.    

The FBM 70 jumped 55.45 points to 15,369.41 and the FBM Ace surged 62.94 points to 6,664.65.  

On a sectoral basis, the Industrial Index was 11.33 points higher at 3,273.55, the Plantation Index rose 10.39 points to 8,076.39, and the Finance Index improved 2.14 points to 16,357.46. — Bernama