KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session with gains, mirroring the positive trend seen in other regional markets.

At 12:30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased by 6.13 points, rising by 0.39 per cent to reach 1,586.43, compared to yesterday's closing figure of 1,580.30.

The overall market sentiment remained optimistic, with gainers outnumbering losers 510 to 412, while 489 counters maintained their previous positions.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said the positive market sentiment following Apple and Qualcomm's strong performance after trading hours, along with Microsoft's investments in Malaysia, is expected to offer significant support to the technology sector.

"Meanwhile, the FBM Small Cap has trended positively at its 52-week high, which may suggest more upside on the overall market conditions," it added.

According to Malacca Securities, segments like construction, property, utilities, solar, and building materials are expected to trade relatively strong.

This is driven by domestic catalysts including the potential revival of major infrastructure projects and the ongoing execution of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP).

n the commodities market, Brent oil continued its decline, falling below the US$84 mark, while crude palm oil (CPO) maintained a range between RM3,800 and RM3,900.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2024/05/1045822/bursa-malaysia-ends-midday-higher-line-regional-markets