KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 ― Bursa Malaysia pared its gains but stayed marginally higher at midday as investors resorted to profit-taking in banking stocks after their recent advance.

At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) crept up 0.76 of a point to 1,425.37 from yesterday's close of 1,424.61.

The main index opened 0.18 of a point higher at 1,424.79 and moved between 1,424.54 and 1,429.48 throughout the session.

The market breadth was positive as gainers beat decliners at 394 to 341, while 393 counters were unchanged, 1,148 untraded, and 73 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 2.02 billion units worth RM738.31 million.

A trader said if the selling continues, the main index may end up in the red after its three-day winning streak, regaining strength from the absence of negative headlines about the US and Europe banking crisis.

Nevertheless, he said regional leads were positive following overnight Wall Street gains, which may be a catalyst for investors to participate in the market.

Nikkei Index rose 1.11 per cent to 28,090.36, Hang Seng Index increased 0.84 per cent to 20,480.13 and the Straits Times Index was 0.20 per cent higher at 3,263.71.

Among Bursa Malaysia heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB lost five sen to RM8.58 and RM5.30 respectively.

Meanwhile, CelcomDigi, MR DIY and Tenaga Nasional added seven sen to RM4.37, RM1.60 and RM9.25 respectively, while Public Bank was two sen higher at RM4.00.

As for the actives, MMAG and Fitters were unchanged at two sen and eight sen, while MyEG climbed four sen to 77 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index garnered 11.13 points to 10,435.54, the FBMT 100 Index rose 10.75 points to 10,130.03, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 15.53 points to 10,738.32.

The FBM 70 Index gained 36.29 points to 13,517.93 and the FBM ACE Index was 68.65 points stronger at 5,271.98.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index eased 45.01 points to 15,721.73, the Industrial Products and Services Index was flat at 171.64, the Plantation Index added 4.38 points to 6,734.86, and the Energy Index gained 4.81 points to 837.08. ― Bernama