KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): The FBM KLCI rose 0.51% at mid-morning today, lifted by Petronas-linked stocks and other select blue chips, in line with the advance at regional markets.

At 10.05am, the FBM KLCI rose 8.34 points to 1,637.

Gainers led losers by 317 to 170, while 321 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 957.74 million shares valued at RM425.97 million.

The gainers included Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Apex Healthcare Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd and Merge Energy Bhd.

The actives included Gagasan Nadi Cergas Bhd, Dynaciate Group Bhd, Alam Maritim Resources Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Perdana Petroleum Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd and Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd.

The losers included Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, IHH Healthcare Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, UEM Edgenta Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, ViTrox Corp Bhd, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and GETS Global Bhd.

Asia shares extended their rally on Tuesday as factory activity surveys from China and the United States boosted investor confidence, triggering the largest one-day sell-off in the US Treasury market in nearly three months, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.3% to a seven-month high after rallying more than 1% in the previous session, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said the trading tone could stay positive over the near term with both the US and China manufacturing data suggesting some improvements in March.

"Nevertheless, as Chinese officials will be heading to Washington for the trade discussions, should there be any positive surprises; the Dow could even surge towards the previous all-time high zone around 26,951-27,000," it said.

On the FBM KLCI, the research house said with the traders still speculating a potential overnight policy rate (OPR) cut by Bank Negara Malaysia, sentiment will continue to drag on banking stocks, eventually limiting upside potential on KLCI.

"However, with the oversold momentum oscillators, the key index may be due for a technical rebound. Also, traders may focus on construction stocks amid recovering sentiment on construction projects moving forward," it said.