by ALIFAH ZAINUDDIN/FILE PIX

THE FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) rose modestly at midday after China posted a higher-than-expected gross domestic product growth of 6.8% in the first-quarter of 2018 (1Q18).

The world’s second biggest economy carried most of its strong momentum from last year into 1Q18, beating earlier estimates of a tick down to 6.7% from 6.8% the previous quarter.

The KLCI ended the morning session at 1,882.79, 4.03 points or 0.21% higher from yesterday’s close of 1,878.76, as it tracked earlier gains made on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 212.9 points, or 0.87%, to 24,573.04, the S&P 500 climbed 21.54 points, or 0.81% to 2,677.84 and the Nasdaq Composite added 49.63 points, or 0.7% to 7,156.28.

Elsewhere across Asian markets, trading were mixed. The Nikkei 225 was flat at midbreak, while Hong Kong’s Hap Seng was up by 0.55 points or 0.0018% to 30,316.14. Over in Seoul, the Kospi fell by 5.2 points or 0.21% to 2,452.29.

Market breadth of the local index was positive, with 425 gainers and 309 losers, while 382 were unchanged.

Top gainers included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd and Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd.

Top losers were Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd and Nestle (M) Bhd.