Regional markets up at midday 29 May 2009

Most regional markets were up at midday on Friday buoyed by a report that Japan’s industrial output grew the most in 56 years in April.
Japan’s production experienced better-than-expected growth of 5.2% from March boosted by a rebound in exports.
At 12.30pm, the KLCI rose 2.85 points (0.27%) to 1,044.09 while Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 1.10% to 2,318.22. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.03% to 9,448.10, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 0.46% to 17,967.31 and South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.47% to 1,385.56.

At Bursa Malaysia, 224 counters were up, 258 counters were down and 198 were traded unchanged. There were 827.45 million shares done with a total value of RM811.04 million.

Among the heavyweights, Tenaga added 20 sen to RM7.80, Maybank rose 5 sen to RM5.20, TM fell 8 sen to RM2.65 and Genting slipped 5 sen to RM5.40.
Plantation stocks Sime was up 10 sen to RM6.85, KLK added 20 sen to RM11.70, PPB rose 10 sen to RM10.90 and Batu Kawan slipped 10 sen to RM8.55. Malaysia Airports was down 12 sen to RM3.48, RHB Capital lost 12 sen to RM4.08, BAT fell 25 sen to RM43.50, Boustead dipped 22 sen to RM4.24. Oil-related stocks KNM added 7.5 sen to 88 sen, Scomi rose 2.5 sen to 70 sen and SAAG was up 1 sen to 33.5 sen.