KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed the morning session on a positive note, driven by sustained purchasing interest in both large-cap and small-cap stocks.
At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 5.54 points to 1,491.91 from Friday's close of 1,486.37.
The benchmark index started 0.98 points higher at 1,487.35 and fluctuated between 1,485.51 and 1,493.98 throughout the session.
On the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 546 to 385, while 378 counters were unchanged.
Turnover amounted to 2.85 billion units worth RM1.63 billion.
Malacca Securities Research expects buying interest to build up on the local exchange within the technology sector, with the strong sustaining rally in the US.
"Also, we expect the small cap and lower liners to see bargain hunting activities in the near term after a few rounds of limit-down situations last week.
"The focus will be on investment catalysts such as the revival of KL-SG h8gh speed rail mega projects, rising focus on the Johor region theme as well as easing requirements of MM2H going forward," it said in a note today.
Thus, the firm said traders should focus on the construction, property and building material segments.