KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed midday mixed, as the benchmark index closed marginally higher while the broader market closed lower on disappointing global economic data.
At 12.30pm, the benchmark FBM KLCI was up 1.12 points to 1,534.67.
Buying interest in heavyweights remained on the back of higher Chinese mainland markets following their post-Lunar New year reopening.
Some 2.12 billion shares changed hands for RM1.01 billion.
Hong Leong Investment Bank Research (HLIB) said the ongoing February reporting season, and upbeat US inflation readings scaled back investors ' optimism over Fed's rate-cut expectation.
The bank said this is anticipated to weigh on sentiment in the near term. "However, we remain hopeful for a reprieve in the KLCI in the long term, fuelled by increased risk appetite by foreigners for the under-owned Bursa Malaysia.
"In addition, a brighter earnings outlook for KLCI components and stable earnings growth for S&P 500 amid soft landing narrative and decelerating will also fuel the stocks," it said.
Among actives, Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd rose 0.5 sen to 2.5 sen, Minetec Group Bhd dropped one sen to 18 sen and TWL Holdings Bhd was unchanged at 3.5 sen.