KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI held on to gains as it entered midday as the domestic market rebounded on the back of strong energy and commodities prices.

       At 12.30pm, the key index rose 9.43 points to 1,586.39 with plantation stocks leading the advance.

       Kuala Lumpur Kepong rose 56 sen to RM25.56, IOI gained two sne to RM4.42 and Sime Darby Plantation was flat at RM4.65.

       Petronas Chemicals meanwhile jumped nine sen to RM9.23 while Petronas Gas added 12 sen to RM17.22.

       In the financial sector, Maybank climbed four sen to RM8.76, Public added one sen to RM4.35, CIMB gained three sen to RM5.53 and Hong Leong Bank was unchanged at RM19.90.

       Technology counters also rebounded, led by MPI rising 88 sen to RM35.78, D& gaining 22 sen to RM4.73 and Dufu climbing 20 sen to RM2.96.

       Top actives were SMTrack down 1.5 sen to 24 sen, DNeX up four sne to RM1.16 and MSM diving 23 sen to RM89 sen.

       Meanwhile, investors remained on edge over potential armed conflict in Ukraine although there remained room for a diplomatic solution.

       Japan's Nikkei dropped 1.7%, South Korea's Kospi gained 0.2% and China's composite index gained 0.55%.

       Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 0.7% and Australia's ASX200 added 0.3%.