15/08/2012 (The Star) - Blue chips were marginally higher at midday on Tuesday, underpinned by gains in DiGi and YTL Corp, but the broader market saw some profit taking on Petronas-linked stocks and Tenaga.

At midday, crude palm oil (CPO) futures for third-month delivery fell to the lowest since Oct 18, 2011. It was down RM36 to RM2,835 per tonne on expectations that prices would be impacted by the higher stockpile.

The FBM KLCI was up just 0.02 of a point to 1,646.34. Turnover was 489.49 million shares valued at RM449.30mil. There were 239 gainers, 326 losers and 312 counters unchanged.

Bloomberg reported most Asian stocks rose as Bank of Japan minutes showed policy makers are considering steps to boost the economy, and before U.S. retail sales data expected to signal demand is recovering in the world's largest economy.

Among the key regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.27% to 8,909.39; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.22% to 20,126.50; Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.38% to 7,464.54; South Korea's Kospi 0.96% higher at 1,951.02 and Singapore's Straits Times Index eked out a gain of 0.05% to 3,066.49. However, Shanghai's Composite Index fell 0.49% to 2,125.70.

US light crude oil rose 14 cents to US$92.87 but Brent fell 18 cents to US$113.42. Spot gold added US$2.35 to US$1,612.10.

The ringgit was weaker against the US dollar at 3.1225.

At Bursa Malaysia, most investors were staying on the sidelines, while there was some fund nibbling on BAT and KLCCP and selected bank stocks.

BAT was the top gainer, up 80 sen to RM62.40, Amway added 48 sen to RM10.98 and Dutch Lady 40 sen to RM60.90 but Carlsberg fell 12 sen to RM12.22.

Among the plantations, Batu Kawan added 12 sen to RM18.92 and Glenealy 10 sen to RM7.20 with only 100 shares done. However, KLK fell 22 sen to RM23.76 and United Plantations 12 sen to RM27.14.

Petronas Dagangan fell 64sen to RM22.32 in very thin volume while Petronas Gas shed 22 sen to RM19.56. MMHE gave up four sen to RM4.91 and Tenaga three sen to RM6.89.