KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): The FBM KLCI reversed its earlier loss and moved firmly above the 1,710-point level, lifted by the select blue chips.

At 10.01am, the FBM KLCI rose 4.87 points to 1,712.55. The index had earlier slipped to a low of 1,706.17.

The top gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Choo Bee Metal Industries Bhd, Ann Joo Resources Bhd and SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd.

The actives included Dagang NeXchange Bhd, Sterling Progress Bhd, Hubline Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, JAG Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Frontken Corporation Bhd, KNM Group Bhd and Sumatec Resources Bhd.

The decliners included Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, Apex Healthcare Bhd, Shell Refining Company (Federation of Malaya) Bhd, Batu Kawan Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, Jaks Resources Bhd and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd.

Asian share markets got off to a subdued start on Monday as political uncertainty kept the mood cautious, while the US dollar softened a touch ahead of a busy week for Federal Reserve speakers, according to Reuters.

Turnover was light with US markets closed for the Presidents Day holiday. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.1% to inch away from a 19-month peak set last week, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said that based on the recent trading activities, which most of the overseas indices trended on a mild pullback formation, it opined that investors were keeping an eye on economic policies that would be revealed by Donald Trump over the near term.

"Also, traders will be focusing on the final two weeks on the reporting season, coupled with the Fed's meeting minutes that will be released on Wednesday.

"Similarly, sentiments on the FBM KLCI are likely to stay sideways without any fresh catalyst in the market.

"However, small caps index might be resuming its uptrend formation once the index surges above the 16,100 level after taking a pause last week," it said.