KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia started Wednesday on a firmer note, with semicon and tech-related stocks among the gainers, while Press Metal and KL Kepong underpinned the FBM KLCI’s advance past the crucial 1,500 level.

       At 9.17am, the KLCI was up 6.05 points or 0.4% to 1,502.78. Turnover was 508.40 million shares valued at RM243.05mil. There were 323 gainers, 209 losers and 320 counters unchanged.

       Bloomberg reported Asian stocks saw modest gains Wednesday, following their US peers higher as investors assessed the ability of the economy to sustain less stimulus and rising virus outbreaks. Treasuries dipped and the dollar was steady.

       The Senate passed a $550 billion infrastructure plan that represents the biggest burst of spending on US public works in decades

       Shares rose in Japan and Australia and retreated in South Korea. U.S. futures were little changed. Earlier, the S&P 500 climbed to an all-time high, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 declined. Chip stocks slipped, while energy shares rallied.

       Rakuten Trade, in its market outlook for Bursa, said it expects some buying to persist on the back of easing of the prevailing movement control order and see the index to hover the 1,495 to 1,505 range today.

       Genetec rallied 48 sen to RM25.88, Vitrox 26 sen to RM20.10, Greatec 10 sen to RM7.20, SAM Engineering 10 sen to RM14.30 while MPI advanced 10 sen also to RM44.80.

       CI Holdings gained 21 sen to RM3.72 and Perak Transit warrats WB umped 17.5 sen to 18 sen when they started trading on Wednesday.

       Press Metal rose 11 sen to RM5.05 and KL Kepong 10 sen to RM19.44 but Hong Leong Bank lost eight sen to RM18.14.

       Ta Win and its warrants rose 0.5 sen each to 17.5 sen and 8.5 sen in active trade.

       Mcom Holdings collapsed 11 sen to 0.5 sen while Cocoland lost nine sen to RM1.81, OMH eight sen to RM2.50 and Texchem six sen to 82 sen.

       GHL System lost seven sen to RM1.88.