KUALA LUMPUR: Astro All Asia Networks share price, which rallied to a two-year high at midday on Thursday, March 18, helped keep the FBM KLCI in the positive zone.

The broader market displayed some caution among investors after the 30-stock index dipped into the red in intra-morning trade. However, key regional markets managed to eke out some gains.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI rose 1.44 points to 1,303.39. Turnover was 364.98 million shares valued at RM625.92 million. There were 249 gainers, 306 losers and 266 stocks unchanged.

Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.16% to 2,923.84, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.16% to 21,418.78 and Shanghai's Composite Index added 0.13% to 3,054.56 but Japan's Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.27% to 10,818.09.

Light crude oil fell 48 cents to US$82.45 but US spot gold rose US$3.55 to US$1,123.70. Crude palm oil futures lost RM21 to RM2,574 on market talk China and India may delay their purchases.

Astro rallied to its highest since February 2008 on the RM4.30 privatisation offer, adding 65 sen to RM4.21 with 34.5 million shares done. Astro's gains added 1.61 points to the FBM KLCI.

Related company Measat turned around, from an intra-morning low of RM2.42 to end the session at RM2.81, up 16 sen with 20.2 million shares done.

Tenaga and PLUS rose three sen each to RM7.98 and RM3.43 and YTL six sen to RM7.48. TM rose two sen to RM3.26 and Maybank one sen to RM7.30.Wah Seong rose 11 sen to RM2.53 on brighter prospects for contracts. It is bidding for RM5.3 billion contracts.

Genting Bhd fell six sen to RM6.60, dragging the FBM KLCI down 0.53 of a point while Sime Darby's three sen loss to RM8.51 shaved 0.43 of a point off the index.

Top Glove fell the most, down 14 sen to RM12.42 as investors took profit after the strong run-up and better earnings.

MISC-F and Kulim fell 10 sen each to RM8 amd RM7.35 while Mudajaya eased eight sen to RM5.