KUALA LUMPUR: Window-dressing activities in the last day of the calendar year returned the FBM KLCI above the 1,700-point mark even as sentiment improved over the outlook for 2019.The rally on the local market also coincided with a positive turn on global markets. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said a conversation he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping saw "bg progress being made", giving investors more reason to look forward to a trade deal.Shanghai's composite Index was up 0.4% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.3%. Japan's Nikkei was closed for New Year's Eve.At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 8.32 points to 1,700.39. Turnover was 795.32 million shares valued at RM449.3ml. It was also 0.2% higher against the pound sterling at 5.35 and 0.3% stronger against the Singapore at 3.0318.

Source: The Star December 31, 2018 04:52 UTC