KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI tracked regional markets higher as fears over the news that US President Donald Trump had contracted the coronavirus subsided.

At 12.30pm, the key index was up 5.39 points to 1,505.69. Rubber glove counters shored up the market as they continued to advance on the back of growing Covid-19 infections globally.

Top Glove rose 23 sen to RM8.99 while Hartalega gained eight sen to RM17.58.

Financial counters however were mixed with Maybank adding three sen to RM7.14, Public Bank slipping eight sen to RM15.66, Hong Leong Bank unchanged at RM15 and CIMB flat at RM3.06.

In property stocks, Ecoworld was up three sen to 42.5 sen while Sunrise rose 4.5 sen to 40.5 sen on news that the two companies would engage in merger talks to form the country's largest property developer.

Meanwhile, plantatation counters extended their rebound after being sold down on fears of more imports bans from the US Custome and Border Protection agency.

Sime Darby Plantation added two sen to RM4.85, Kuala Lumpur Kepong rose six sen to RM22.76, and IOI gained six sen to RM4.46

Most traded stocks were AT up 0.5 sen to 7.5c, Caely rising 11 sen to 57. sen and XOX down 0.5 sen to 11.5 sen.

Japan's Nikkei bounced 1.2% higher after Friday's sell-off on news of Trump's illness while Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.5% following an extended break for national holidays.

Australia's ASX200 surged 2.5% and South Korea's Kospi was up 1.2%

Sime Darby Plantation added two sen to RM4.85, Kuala Lumpur Kepong rose six sen to RM22.76, and IOI gained six sen to RM4.46

Japan's Nikkei bounced 1.2% higher after Friday's sell-off on news of Trump's illness while Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.5% following an extended break for national holidays.

Australia's ASX200 surged 2.5% and South Korea's Kospi was up 1.2%