KUALA LUMPUR: Blue chips got off on a quiet start on Thursday, Feb 18 despite the firmer overnight close of Wall Street but trading interest was seen in smaller capitalised stocks. Glove makers and pharmaceutical-based stocks likes CCM Duopharma Biotech and Pharmaniaga were the major gainers.

At 9.36am, the FBM KLCI rose just 0.37 of a point to 1,259.44. Turnover was 85.86 million shares valued at RM88 million. The broader market was firmer with 146 gainers, 98 losers and 118 stocks unchanged.

Tenaga managed to recoup part of its losses on Wednesday, rising nine sen to RM7.94.

Notion VTec, whose target price was raised to RM4.32 by CIMB Research, rose 17 sen to RM3.11.

CIMB Research had initiated coverage with an Outperform as Notion Vtec stands out for its impressive track record within the notoriously cyclical tech sector, strong 3-year EPS CAGR of 28% for FY10-12, impressive stable of MNC clients, entry of a strategic shareholder, undemanding valuations and the favourable secular theme.

Supermax rose 13 sen to RM5.36, reflecting the resilient glove manufacturing industry, extending its gains from Wednesday.

CCM Douopharma added 11 sen to RM2.50 and Pharmaniaga nine sen to RM4.30. OSK Research said the company sees a potential in the fill and finish (F&F) segment in the region given the limited number of such facilities, and that the process of packaging vaccines from bulk form into small dosage packs requires stringent procedures to ensure the end-product is safe for consumption.

Hap Seng was the top loser, down 19 sen to RM2.30 with just 100 shares done.

Petronas Dagangan fell five sen to RM8.52 and IOI Corp five sen also to RM5.27 while SapuraCrest shed three sen to RM2.40.