KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia maintained its momentum to stay in positive territory at midday supported by heavyweights such as financial services and plantation sectors.
At 12.30pm, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was up 0.7 per cent or 10.65 points to 1,541.25 versus Wednesday's close of 1,530.60.
The key index opened at 1,532.11 and moved between 1,532.03 and 1,541.90 in the morning trading session.
The broader market saw gainers led losers 455 to 410 while 477 counters were unchanged.
On the index board, FBM100 added 0.61 per cent to 11,240.23, FBM Emas gained 0.57 per cent to 11,592.06 and FBM Ace rose 1.04 per cent to 4,893.21.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd stated in a note that the local exchange will trade in a rangebound mode today, tracking the mixed sentiment in the United States.
"With the stronger commodities prices such as Brent oil and gold prices, we believe the market could focus on the oil and gas and gold-related sectors.
"Besides, the construction and property sectors will be taking the lead in the near term with the revival of infrastructure projects, higher investments in data centres and recovery prospects in the property segment. Other sectors that may have short term trading ideas include finance, technology and packaging," it added.
The firm said Brent oil surged strongly amid the ongoing Opec+ production cuts, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, coupled with a falling US rig count.
Besides, the gold price has surged above the US$2,230 per ounce zone.
