KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's benchmark index eked was flat at midday while the regional markets rallied on the back of growing optimism that additional stimulus measures in China will help to bolster the slowing economy while US economic data pointed to a halt in interest rate hikes this year.

       At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI rose a marginal 0.35 points to 1,463.78 as investors held on to recent gains but awaited further domestic catalysts before pushing higher.

       There were 499 decliners on the market compared to 410 gainers.

       The trading volume was 2.32 billion shares valued at RM1.21bil.

       Among the leading gainers, Press Metal climbed seven sen to RM4.99, Public Bank rose four sen to RM4.28 and Sime Darby Plantation added three sen to RM4.43.

       Hong Leong Bank fell 14 sen to RM19.86 while MISC shaved nine sen to RM7.20.

       On the broader market, brewers were on the rise. Heineken gained 36 sen to RM23.82 and Carlsberg rose 10 sen to RM20.20.

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       Among actives, MRCB was flat at 49.6 sen, DNex rose 0.5 sen to 47 sen and KNM gained 0.5 sen to 10 sen.

       With investors relieved over Beijing's promise of economic support, China's main index was up 1.1% to 3,168 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 2.6% to 18,851.

       Japan's Nikkei rose 0.5% to 32,869 and South Korea's Kospi added 0.4% to 2,574.