KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia’s composite index was marginally higher at the lunch break as it remained on course to deliver a positive weekly performance.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 0.76 points to 1,425.37 as investors stayed cautious amid a rally in global markets. The market breadth was positive with 394 gainers compared with 341 decliners.

Trading volume was 2.02 billion shares valued at RM738.31mil.

Investors were in bargain-hunting mode on Wall Street overnight as the worst of the turmoil in the banking sector seemed to have passed.

Helping the bullish momentum was quarter-end window-dressing activities as fund managers adjusted their portfolios to boost reported figures.

Japan’s Nikkei led the advance in Asian markets, rising 1.1% to 28,095 amid the improved sentiment.

Other key markets included South Korea’s Kospi ring 1% to 2,478, China’s composite index adding 0.2% to 3,268 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbing 0.8% to 20,480.

As it stood, the FBM KLCI was on course to end Friday on a positive note after registering daily gains since Tuesday. On a quarterly basis, the market remained nearly 5% below the 2022 year-end close of 1,495.49.

By sector, CelcomDigi led telcos higher with a seven sen jump to RM4.37. Maxis rose two sen to RM4.12 and Axiata dropped one sen to RM3.

Tenaga Nasional climbed seven sen to RM9.25, MR DIY climbed seven sen to Rm1.60 and Inari rose four sen to RM20.76.

Gainers on the broader market included F&N up 30 sen to RM26.16, Hengyuan climbing eight sen to RM3.48 and Carlsberg rising eight sen to RM21.52.

Top actives included MMAG unchanged at two sen, MYEG jumping four sen to 77 sen and CFM down one sen to 21.5 sen.