KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark index rose by 0.21 per cent at mid-morning on the back of selected heavyweight counters, led by TNB, MISC and CIMB Group.

TNB added 36 sen to RM14.08, MISC was 10 sen better at RM8.60 and CIMB improved three sen to RM6.71.These counters contributed 4.83 points to the composite index.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) added 3.38 points to 1,593.04 from Monday's close of 1,589.66. The benchmark index opened 0.05 points better at 1,589.71.

Overall the market remained bearish, with decliners trumping gainers 604 to 288, while 424 counters were unchanged, 1,102 untraded, and 16 others suspended. Turnover amounted to 2.32 billion units worth RM1.09 billion.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose two sen at RM9.90, Public Bank dipped one sen to RM4.02, IHH was flat at RM6.30 and Petronas Chemicals erased 13 sen to RM6.44.

As for the actives, Ingenieur Gudang and AHB warrants were both flat at 6.5 sen, while YGL Convergence added 3.5 sen at 22 sen and McClean was 2.5 sen better at 43.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index accumulated 14.43 points to 12,208.47, the FBMT 100 Index gained 20.86 points to 11,792.48, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index added 23.84 points to 12,568.98. The FBM 70 Index improved 16.02 points to 17,732.53 but the FBM ACE Index fell 32.27 points to 5,681.74.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index added 26.14 points to 17,380.55, the Energy Index put on 3.15 points to 955.29 and the Plantation Index garnered 4.02 points to 7,028.54.

The Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 1.75 points to 196.7.