At midday, Kuala Lumpur exchange's benchmark index shed 4.6 points, or 0.29, to 1,596.08 points, below the 1600-point support level.

This morning, the key index traded higher, rising 1.48 points to 1602.16 points as at 9:10am, from yesterday's closing of 1,600.68 points owing to renewed buying interest.