KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI eased off morning highs but remained in positive territory at midday as investors followed through on bullish momentum.

       At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 3.39 points to 1,606.59 with Kuala Lumpur leading the rally.

       The plantations counter jumped RM1.18 on stellar earnings results released yesterday while sector peer Sime Darby Plantation climbed 19 sen to RM4.83.

       Press Metal meanwhile took a breather from its recent rally to retreat 10 sen to RM6.90.

       Petronas-related counters also dipped as Brent crude prices took a step back from recent highs. Petronas Chemicals fell one sen to RM9.29 and Petronas Gas shed eight sen to RM17.14.

       Meanwhile, IHH rose eight sen to RM6.64.

       Among consumer stocks, Heineken climbed RM2.06 to RM22.42, Carlsberg added RM1.94 to RM22.14 and Nestle gained 30 sen to RM134.80.

       Top actives were DNeX rising two sen to RM1.25, SMTrack up 0.5 sen to 23 sen and VC adding one sen to eight sen.

       In major Asian markets, sentiment was mixed as uncertainty remained over whether Russia was pulling back its troops from the Ukraine border.

       Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.9%, South Korea's Kospi rose 0.4% and China's composite index added 0.35%.

       Hong Kong's Hang Seng meanwhile slid 0.6% while Australia's ASX200 added 0.25%.