20/12/2016 (The Star) - Plantations rose early Tuesday and  nudging the FBM KLCI slightly into the positive zone on firm crude palm oil prices which rose to around RM3,200 the previous day.

At 9.42am, the KLCI was up 0.4 of a point or just 0.02% to 1,634.70. Turnover was 271.79 million shares valued at RM116.69mil. There were 187 gainers, 138 losers and 209 counters unchanged.

Reuters reported regional stocks were steady as financial markets pondered upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

However, oil prices eased on Tuesday as traders began to unwind positions in the run-up to the year-end holiday season.

US light crude oil futures were trading at US$51.97 per barrel at 0134 GMT, down 15 cents from their last settlement. International Brent crude oil futures were down one cent from their last close at US$54.91 a barrel.

Petronas Dagangan added eight sen to RM23.58.

Batu Kawan rose 10 sen to RM18.20, Riverview added eight sen to RM3.60 while PPB Group and KL Kepong added six sen each to RM15.82 and RM23.78.

LPI was the top loser, down eight sen to RM16.62, Daiman lost six sen to RM2.14 while Public Bank fell four sen to RM19.70. Astro lost three sen to RM2.70.