KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 30): Bursa Malaysia ended the morning trading session marginally higher despite mixed sentiments, as investors took their cue from the US markets, which closed on a high note last week, but remained wary of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate announcement on Wednesday (Feb 1).

At lunch break, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 0.16 of-a-point to 1,497.71 from Friday's close of 1,497.55.

The key index opened 2.2 points higher at 1,499.75 on Monday morning and moved between 1,496.11 and 1,500.95 throughout the session.

On the broader market, gainers led decliners 425 to 383, while 400 counters were unchanged, 1,010 untraded and 54 others suspended.

Turnover amounted to 2.55 billion units worth RM1.08 billion.

In a note, Public Investment Bank Bhd attributed the positive sentiment in the market on Monday morning to Wall Street’s performance last week, which saw the benchmark S&P 500 rising by about 0.2% on Friday to mark a 2.5% gain for the week.

“Investors are weighing the latest batch of corporate results and economic data and looking ahead to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate decision this Wednesday,” it said.

Regional stock markets were mixed, as Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.07% to 27,402.96, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 1.62% lower at 22,320.6, Singapore's Strait Times Index was 0.31% easier at 3,383.56 and South Korea's Kospi erased 1.25% to 2,452.9.

Back home, Bursa heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd added two sen to RM8.76, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd rose two sen to RM5.76, IHH Healthcare Bhd advanced two sen to RM5.97, Public Bank Bhd gained one sen to RM4.26 while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd fell three sen to RM8.45.

As for the actives, Borneo Oil Bhd advanced half-a-sen to two sen, Nylex (Malaysia) Bhd rose four sen to 58.5 sen, and Velesto Energy Bhd was one sen higher at 23 sen, while Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd accumulated 1.5 sen to 19.5 sen and its warrant inched up half-a-sen to two sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index improved 10.98 points to 10,904.35, the FBMT 100 Index bagged 6.78 points to 10,570.69, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 12.97 points to 11,190.52.

The FBM 70 Index rose 33.33 points to 13,793.14 and the FBM ACE Index increased 31.24 points to 5,762.47.  

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index improved by 0.15 of-a-point to 190.92, the Energy Index added 10.57 points to 891.33, the Plantation Index gained 1.24 points to 6,842.47, and the Financial Services Index was up by 26.21 points to 16,496.4.