KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI maintained its lead at midday as the return foreign buying interest amid rising commodities prices helped to shore up the index.

       At 12.30pm, the key index was up 7.87 points to 1,591.71. There was a slightly negative market breadth with 431 decliners compared to 407 gainers.

       Brent crude prices, which remained at seven-year highs, kept investors optimistic over the domestic recovery.

       In major Asian markets, the mood remained sour as concerns remained over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.

       Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Kospi were each down 0.6% while China's composite index rose 0.4%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng meanwhile slid 0.7% while Australia's ASX200 shed 0.4%.

       However, the rally remained strong on Bursa Malaysia, which was en route to a fifth straight day of gains.

       The financial sector stayed firm with Public Bank rising four sen to RM4.40, CIMB adding two sen to RM5.63 while Maybank and Hong Leong Bank stayed flat.

       Press Metal advanced three sen to RM6.73 while Petronas Chemicals climbed six sen to RM9.32.

       Plantations counters meanwhile jumped amid the spike in energy prices with Sime Darby Plantation adding 32 sen to RM4.56, Kuala Lumpur Kepong gaining 62 sen to RM24.98 and IOI adding five sen to RM4.19.

       Among top actives, SMTrack rose one sen to 21.5 sen, Ta Win added 1.5 sen to 16 sen and DNeX gained one sen to RM1.16.