By NG MIN SHEN / Pic By TMR

Bursa Malaysia main index ended the morning session higher, boosted by selected heavyweights and index-linked stocks amid an upswing in regional markets.

At the midday break today, the FBM KLCI was 2.2 points or 0.12% stronger at 1,765.13 from yesterday’s close of 1,762.93.

The benchmark index moved between 1,765.81 and 1,760.77 throughout the morning trading session, after having opened 1.98 points lower at 1,760.95.

Market breadth was positive with gainers leading losers 463 to 325, while 411 counters were unchanged, 731 were untraded and 28 others suspended.

Volume stood at 2.28 billion units, valued at RM1.34 billion.

Among the top gainers, Petronas Dagangan Bhd jumped 78 sen or 2.97% to RM27.08, Dialog Group Bhd added two sen to RM3.26, RHB Bank Bhd rose three sen to RM5.39, Tenaga Nasional Bhd climbed eight sen to RM14.86, Malayan Banking Bhd added five sen to RM9.82, Telekom Malaysia Bhd rose one sen to RM3.86, Petronas Gas Bhd was lifted by eight sen to RM18.48, and Public Bank Bhd was two sen higher at RM24.00.

Among the decliners are Sime Darby Plantation Bhd that shed seven sen to settle at RM5.26, IHH Healthcare Bhd lost six sen to reach RM6.01, Genting Bhd was seven sen lower at RM8.71, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd fell three sen to RM4.43, Nestle (M) Bhd slipped 40 sen to RM148.40, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd declined four sen to RM18.16, and PPB Group Bhd slid two sen to RM16.76.