KUALA LUMPUR: The domestic market maintained its slight lead at midday ahead of Bank Negara's announcement of its interest rate decision later today.

       At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 2.32 points to 1,556.9. The overall market was split between 374 gainers and 365 decliners.

       The financial services sector moved higher with Maybank climbing eight sen to RM9.08, Public Bank adding one sen to RM4.65. However, Hong Leong Bank dropped 10 sen to RM20.40.

       Plantations meanwhile was also lifted, with Sime Darby Plantation gaining 10 sen to RM5, Kuala Lumpur Kepong rising 18 sen to RM26.98.

       Top actives included CSH up one sen to 12.5 sen, Serba Dinamik slipping one sen to 6.5 sen and Technax rising 0.5 sen to 12 sen.

       Asian markets meanwhile bounced back slightly after days of losses took equities to two-year lows.

       Japan's Nikkei rose 0.3%, South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.1% and China's composite index gained 1.6%.

       Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.7% while Australia's ASX200 dipped 0.2%.