L shares mostly higher at mid-morning

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were mostly higher in midmorning trade today, driven by gains in lower liners, dealers said.

As
at 11.24 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) however, slipped
0.48 of a point to 1,613.95, dragged by losses in heavyweights.

The bellweather had opened 1.60 points higher at 1,616.03.
Asian
markets were mostly lower as the European Central Bank's decision
yesterday to cut interest rate to a record low failed to excite
investors.

A US jobs data announcement later today will
provide clues on the extent of the damage from the eurozone debt crisis
to the world's largest economy.




The Finance Index rose 12.561 points to 14,395.99 and the
Plantation Index gained 27.71 points to 8,724.50, but the Industrial
Index decreased 0.24 of a point to 2,861.20. The FBM Emas rose 5.909
points to 11,046.77, the FBM Ace Index rose 27.25 points to 4,368.75
and the FBM 70 Index, gained 51.52 points to 12,169.01.

Gainers
led losers by 324 to 233 while 274 counters were unchanged, 740
untraded and 19 others suspended. Turnover stood at 478.1 million
shares worth RM426.3 million.

Of the actives, Luster
Industries rose one sen to 10.5 sen, Luster Industries Warrants
increased one sen to seven sen, Ingenuity Solutions warrants was
unchanged at five sen with GPRO Technologies unchanged at 19 sen.

For
the heavyweights, Maybank slipped two sen to RM8.65, Sime Darby
declined one sen to RM9.92 but CIMB rose two sen to RM7.68 and Petronas
Chemicals eased three sen to RM6.57. -- BERNAMA