KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI bounced back from a deficit to put it on track to a sixth straight day of gains, led higher by a surge in IHH Healthcare's share price.

       At 12.30pm, the key index was up 4.79 points to 1,590.53.

       The market remained bullish following the announcement of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's new cabinet line-up, which saw the reappointment of several key ministers.

       IHH Healthcare was seen leading the gains on the market with a 49 sen jump to RM6.22 following an earnings announcement that showed a return to the black in its most recent quarter.

       Petronas Chemicals remained on an uptrend, rising four sen to RM10.3, while MISC gained 10 sen to RM7.10 and Axiata added four sen to RM4.04.

       Top actives on the market include Avillion up 1.5 sen to 14 sen, KNM added one sen to 25 sen and Scope fell three sen to 31 sen.

       While the market sentiment remained positive, gains were capped ahead of US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium , which may probide signs on the central bank's future policy.

       Malacca Securities Research noted that rising geopolitical tension surrounding developments in Afghanistan could also be concerning markets.

       Nevertheless, the research house noted the positive technical outlook and pegged resistance to 1,600 and support level to 1,540.

       Amid the global developments, Asian markets were mixed with Japan's NIkkei falling 0.5% and South Korea's Kospi gaining 0.1%.

       China's main index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng were each up 0.5% while Australia's ASX200 was 0.1% lower.