Moderate buying interest in selected heavyweights drove local equity markets to remain trading positive.
At the opening, the FBM KLCI index started 2.32 points at 1,402.68 before rising 2.04 points at 1,402.40 compared to yesterday's closing of 1,400.36.
In the broader market, gains at 233 offset losses at 170, while 260 counters were unchanged, 1,699 untraded and 18 suspended.
Total revenue at 315.96 million units worth RM148.78 million.
According to Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, investors are expected to position themselves in a buying mood ahead of Wall Street's earnings report season despite recession concerns.
Following that, the local market showed buying interest with the official date of the 15th General Election to be announced while the plantation, technology, consumer and health counters remained the favorites.
Heavyweight stocks saw CIMB Group Holdings Bhd up 7 sen at RM5.32 and Maxis Bhd up 4 sen at RM3.50 while Press Metal Aluminum Holdings Bhd Maybank, Public Bank Bhd and IHH Healthcare added 2 sen at RM3.50, RM4.23 , RM8.53 and RM4.22.
Active shares saw Harvest Miracle Capital Bhd up 0.5 sen at 14 sen, Careplus Group Bhd added 2 sen at 44.5 sen and UEM Sunrise Bhd advanced 1.5 sen at 20.5 sen while Hiap Huat Holdings Bhd remained at 16 sen, Top Glove Corp Bhd flat at 74 sen and Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd was unchanged at 27 sen.
On the index board, FBM Emas Index gained 13.14 points at 9,988.04, FBM 70 gained 19.41 points at 12,025.56, the FBMT 100 added 14.51 points at 9,736.26, FBM Emas Shariah fell 9.01 points at 10,025.77 and FBM ACE gathered 2.59 points at 4,755.76.
In terms of sectors, the Financial Services index rose 75.29 points at 15,968.62, the Products and Services index added 0.49 points at 171.35, the Plantation index decreased by 7.23 points at 6,609.44 and the Energy index fell 3.39 points at 667.38.
Meanwhile, the ringgit retreated against the dollar due to profit-taking activity from recession concerns.
At the open, the local currency traded lower at 4.7160/7200 against the greenback from yesterday's close of 4.7145/7165.
