KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia's key index managed to claw back up the 1,590 point at midday, as buying interest was focused on selected heavyweights.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 0.18 per cent or 2.91 points to 1,591.59 from yesterday's close of 1,588.68.
The benchmark index opened 4.36 points higher at 1,593.04.
It hovered between 1,587.74 and 1,593.85 throughout the morning trading session.
The broader market, however, was negative with losers led gainers by 506 to 354, while 464 counters remained unchanged, 1,141 untraded, and 23 suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.47 billion units valued at RM1.03 billion.
Malacca Securities said the escalation of the Ukraine-Russia conflict may weigh on market sentiment but could present opportunities in gold and oil-related stocks, as well as the consumer sector.
The research firm also favours the aviation industry as the year-end holiday season approaches.
"Additionally, the strengthening US dollar and Trump administration's tariffs should benefit export-oriented sectors such as technology and gloves.
"Meanwhile, the construction, property, and building materials sectors remain supported by earlier data center investments," it added.