KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 27): The FBM KLCI pared some of its gains at mid-morning today on some mild pre-holiday profit taking activities.

At 9.56am, the FBM KLCI was up 0.75 points to 1,692.97. The index had earlier risen to a high of 1,695.72.

The gainers included Sime Darby Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, S P Setia Bhd, Zhulian Corp Bhd, Daibochi Plastic and Packaging Industry Bhd and JHM Consolidation Bhd.

The actives included Metronic Global Bhd, D.B.E. Gurney Bhd, Matang Bhd, AirAsia X Bhd, XOX Bhd and Trive Property Group Bhd.

The losers included Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, DKSH Holdings (M) Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Top Glove Corp Bhd.

Asian shares were steady on Friday and were on track for a solid advance this week, while oil and the dollar held onto gains in the wake of strong U.S. corporate earnings, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was little changed, but on track to end the week up 1.9 percent, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said shares on Bursa Malaysia are likely to trade in a lackluster mode (a half-day trading session) today ahead of the long CNY (30 Jan) and Federal Territory (1 Feb) holidays.

“Although we remain optimistic that the FBM KLCI will eventually retest the 1,700 level, traders may adopt the selling-into-strength strategy as slow stochastic indicators is grossly overbought,” it said.