KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI entered midday with a slight lead although the broader market remained negative.

       At 12.30pm, the benchmark index was up 2.88 points to 1,596.63. There were 418 decliners on the market compared to 370 gainers, as investor sentiment remained weighed down by anticipation over US Federal Reserve rate hikes in May.

       Top gainers among the blue chips included Maybank up 10 sen to RM8.90, Petronas Chemicals rising 10 sen to RM10.30 and CIMB adding six sen to RM5.15.

       Decliners included Axiata down nine sen to RM3.60, Petronas Gas falling 10 sen to RM16.90 and Sime Darby Plantation sliding six sen to RM5.28.

       Top active on the market were Vizione up one sen to 11 sen, Sapura Energy flat at four sen and MNC rising one sen to 3.5 sen.

       Meanwhile, Asian markets were buoyed by the Dow Jones rally overnight as corporate earnings helped to lift key heavyweights.

       Japan's Nikkei gained 1.2%, South Korea's gained 0.5% but China's composite index slid 1.2%.

       Hong Kong's Hang Seng also fell 1.6% while Australia's ASX200 rose 0.3%.