KUALA LUMPUR: Shares on Bursa Malaysia were higher at midday, tracking the Asian share markets as the risk appetite of global investors rises.

       At lunch break, the FBM KLCI added 3.63 points to 1,496.22. It opened 0.15 of-a-point higher at 1,492.74.

       There were 374 gainers, 304 losers and 392 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. Turnover stood at 1.8 billion shares valued at RM762.37mil.

       Malacca Securities expects window dressing may emerge in the near term; lifting the FBM KLCI at least above the key 1,500 level.

       “On the commodity markets, the crude oil price rebounded and is trading around US$74, while the CPO is near RM4,400,” it said.

       “We expect traders to move away from the healthcare sector for the near term and focus on recovery theme stocks within the gaming, hospitality and aviation sectors.

       “Meanwhile, investors may pick up in selected heavyweights on the back of the ongoing window dressing activities,” it said.

       MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.6%, after U.S. stocks ended the previous session with gains, Reuters reported.

       Regionally, Japan’s Nikkei index rose 0.16% to 28,562.31, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng improved 0.33% to 23,047.22.

       Among the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, SAM Engineering added 96 sen to RM22, Genetec rose 64 sen to RM36.78, ViTrox gained 42 sen to RM20 and Heineken advanced 22 sen to RM20.78.

       Nestle fell 20 sen to RM131.40, Rapid lost 16 sen to RM10.02, MPI shed 10 sen to RM47.90 and UMS declined 10 sen to RM2.

       PPB jumped 18 sen to RM16.68, Genting added six sen to RM4.52, IHH Healthcare gained four sen to RM6.57, Tenaga added four sen to RM9.30 and Maybank rose three sen to RM8.17.