KUALA LUMPUR (June 23): The FBM KLCI pared some of its gains at mid-morning today as trading remained lacklustre ahead of the extended weekend for the Hari Raya holidays.

At 9.59am, the FBM KLCI was up 0.75 points at 1,778.18. The index had earlier risen to 1,780.06.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, George Kent (M) Bhd, SCC Holdings Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, ViTrox Corporation Bhd, Jaycorp Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd and Genting Malaysia Bhd.

The actives included Hubline Bhd, Anzo Holdings Bhd, Comintel Corporation Bhd, Dagang NeXchange Bhd, NetX Holdings Bhd, Key Alliance Group Bhd and IFCA MSC Bhd.

The losers included HCK Capital Group Bhd, S P Setia Bhd, Comintel, Chin Teck Plantations Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, MISC Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd.

Asian shares baulked at the starting gate on Friday but remained on track for a weekly gain, while crude oil prices pulled away from this week's 10-month lows, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was flat in early trade, and up 0.4% for the week, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a traders' brief said that after falling about 16 points in three straight sessions, KLCI posted a 1.9-point technical rebound to end at 1,777.4 after trading within a range of 3.6 points between an intra-day high of 1,778.7 and a low of 1,775.1 yesterday.

It said market sentiments on the local bourse were negative amid softer crude oil prices and lack of fresh catalysts.

"Wall St ended mixed after recent record highs in the early trades, lifted by the gains in the energy shares and health care stocks amid a rebound in oil prices and ahead of the unveiling of the Senate's health care bill.

"In the near term, the Dow is likely to be trapped in a range bound consolidation mode after hitting a series of record highs as investors refocus their attention on the upcoming July reporting season. Key resistances are 21,500-22,000 while supports fall on 21,000-21,100.

"For Bursa Malaysia, we expect the local bourse to mirror yesterday's lacklustre trading pattern (within 1,775-1,783 band) amid lack of fresh market catalysts and ahead of the long Hari Raya holidays," it said.