KUALA LUMPUR (July 18): Bursa Malaysia remained upbeat at noon, taking its cue from the global stock markets.

At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 0.62 of-a-point to 1,419.06 from Friday's close of 1,418.44.

The benchmark index opened 2.45 points higher at 1,420.89.

On the broader market, gainers led losers 369 to 350, while 360 counters were unchanged, 1,208 untraded and 20 others suspended.  

Turnover stood at 1.43 billion units worth RM540.16 million.

In a note, Public Investment Bank Bhd said the FBM KLCI traded higher in the early session on Monday after US stocks rose on Friday, bringing an upbeat end to a disappointing week.

“Strong retail sales data and a survey hinting at easing inflation expectations tempered concerns over the economic outlook," it said.

The benchmark index and its peers ended lower last week, but the markets rebounded on Monday.

Singapore's Straits Times Index was up by 0.56% to 3,116.46, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 2.58% higher at 20,820.87, while South Korea's KOSPI gained 1.73% to 2,371.32.

Back home, Bursa heavyweights CIMB Group Holdings Bhd added one sen to RM5.06, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd and Petronas Gas Bhd rose eight sen each to RM4.05 and RM16.5, respectively, while Tenaga Nasional Bhd decreased 10 sen to RM7.89 and Hong Leong Bank Bhd fell by 12 sen to RM20.18.

Of the actives, MMAG Holdings Bhd increased one sen to six sen, Top Glove Corporation Bhd expanded 4.5 sen to RM1.04 and Green Packet Bhd was half-a-sen higher at five sen, while Ecoscience International Bhd eased by 2.5 sen to 27.5 sen and Borneo Oil Bhd was flat at 2.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index went up 11.65 points to 10,059.54, the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 33.55 points to 10,115.9, the FBM 70 was 45.87 points higher at 12,040.88, the FBMT 100 Index improved 11.99 points to 9,827.74, and the FBM ACE added 21.14 points to 4,580.97.  

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index was 0.95 of-a-point higher at 167.68, the Energy Index rose 13.85 points to 618.49, and the Plantation Index added 38.73 points to 6,694.46, while the Financial Services Index fell 30.67 points to 15,977.02.

Meanwhile, in separate filings with Bursa Malaysia on Monday, Complete Logistics Services Bhd announced it will change its name to Hextar Technologies Solutions Bhd, and Integrated Logistics Bhd will change its name to ILB Group Bhd, effective from July 19.