KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26): The FBM KLCI edged up 0.13% at the midday break today, lifted by select index-linked blue chips, tracking the advance at regional markets.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 2.08 points at 1,593.43. The index had earlier dipped to its intra-morning low 1,589.05.

Losers led gainers by 300 to 268, while 496 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.36 billion shares valued at RM835.2 million.

The gainers included Solarvest Holdings Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, UWC Bhd and Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd.

The actives included Solarvest, Bumi Armada Bhd, Alam Maritim Resources Bhd, KNM Group Bhd and DGB Asia Bhd.

The decliners included Nestle (M) Bhd, Chin Teck Plantations Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Time Dotcom Bhd, Latitude Tree Holdings Bhd, Knusford Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.

Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, bolstered by Wall Street's record closing highs and signs of new momentum in Beijing's and Washington's efforts to end their long and acrimonious trade dispute, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5% to a one-week high. Australian shares were up 0.9%, while Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.91%, it said.

Affin Hwang Capital Research said the FBM KLCI closed lower on Monday as the index fell 5.49 points or 0.34% to settle at 1,591.35.

It said that technically, price has retraced near to an immediate key support level of 1,580-1,575 range, hence the downside is perceived to be limited unless significant bearish catalysts suddenly emerge.

"Given fairly positive optimisms surrounding key global equity markets in their last trading sessions, it is anticipated that our market [will] open on the positive note today.

"Nonetheless, short-term consolidation mode is still in progress thus might limit any potential upside move.

"Short-term consolidation in progress," it said.