Bursa Malaysia Ends Morning Session Lower

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index ended the morning session lower as profit-taking weighed on heavyweights, with investors awaiting fresh market catalysts.

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 4.41 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 1,614.44 from Monday’s close of 1,618.78.

The benchmark index, which opened 0.76 of a point higher at 1,619.54, swung between 1,615.24 and 1,620.99 during the session.

The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing gainers 491 to 488. A total of 489 counters were unchanged, 1,341 untraded and 40 suspended.

Turnover reached 2.86 billion units, valued at RM1.36 billion.

Among heavyweights, Maybank and Tenaga Nasional added two sen each to RM9.98 and RM13.06 respectively, while Public Bank remained flat at RM4.30. CIMB fell one sen to RM7.46 and IHH declined four sen to RM8.04.

On the most active list, Velesto eased one sen to 25.5 sen, Polymer Link and TWL rose 0.5 sen each to 25.5 sen and three sen, Tanco added two sen to RM1.06, and XOX Technology increased one sen to 6.5 sen.

Top gainers included MPI, up RM1.52 to RM33.18; BLD Plantation, +60 sen to RM15.10; United Plantation, +26 sen to RM28.62; KL Kepong, +20 sen to RM20.92; and UWC, +18 sen to RM5.65.

Among the top losers, Nestle fell RM2.70 to RM109.30; Hong Leong Bank lost 92 sen to RM21.30; Malayan Cement eased 36 sen to RM6.29; Maxis dropped 26 sen to RM4.10; and Kelington declined 24 sen to RM5.31.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index slipped 20.67 points to 11,998.84, the FBM Emas Shariah Index shed 21.91 points to 11,973.91, and the FBMT 100 Index lost 23.98 points to 11,770.04.

The FBM ACE Index trimmed 12.24 points to 4,890.64, while the FBM Mid 70 Index inched up 0.79 of a point to 16,941.99.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index dropped 71.23 points to 18,465.69, the Plantation Index rose 8.54 points to 8,226.11, the Energy Index gained 2.51 points to 759.84, and the Industrial Products & Services Index eased 0.46 of-a-point to 163.19.

-- BERNAMA