KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed the day lower as the Wall Street’s weak overnight performance muted investors’ sentiment, with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) 2.44 points easier.

The benchmark index ended at 1,869.08 points after hovering between 1,866.05 points and 1,871.69 points throughout the day.

A dealer said Bursa Malaysia’s weaker performance was in line with most Southeast Asian markets.

“The borderline growth in China’s manufacturing activity also curbed investor appetite for further risk and prompted profit-taking,” the dealer said.

Kenanga Research, however, said mixed readings from the key indicators were still suggesting that the local benchmark is in a state of consolidation.

“Thus, we are holding a cautiously optimistic view for now. Immediate overhead resistance is capped at 1,882 points while the downside buying support is pegged at 1,858 points,” it said in a note.

Market breadth was negative as losers led gainers 422 to 355 while 330 counters were unchanged, 510 untraded and 14 others were suspended.       

Turnover was lower at 1.15 billion shares, worth RM1.51 billion from 1.5 billion shares, worth RM2.5 billion, recorded one Wednesday.

The local market was closed yesterday for the Labour Day holiday.

Among actives, Sumatec added 2.0 sen to 28 sen, China Stationery gained half-a-sen to 14 sen, Astral Supreme lost 2.0 sen to 14.5 sen while 1 Utopia and Malaysia Airlines remained flat at 6.5 sen and 23 sen.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank erased 2.0 sen to RM9.88, Public bank fell 20 sen to RM19.94, CIMB eased 9.0 sen to RM7.42 while TNB and Axiata were unchanged at RM11.90 and RM6.73.

On the scoreboard, the Industrial Index rose 1.06 points to 3,190.86 points but the Finance Index slipped 71.3 points to 17,072.22 points and the Plantation Index fell 22.61 points to 9,062.65 points.

The FBM Emas Index was 7.85 points lower at 12,933.1 points, the Ace Index declined 24.82 points to 6,558.84 points, the FBMT100 Index was 8.5 points lower at 12,583.13 points but the FBM 70 garnered 21.69 points to 14,097.46 points.

Main Market volume was lower at 892.37 million units worth RM1.45 billion from Wednesday’s 1.06 billion units worth RM2.42 billion.

Turnover on the ACE market fell to 233.15 million shares valued at RM615.64 million from 409.24 million shares valued at RM76.01 million, recorded on Wednesday.

Warrants narrowed to 24.11 million units worth RM2.93 million from Wednesday’s 27.68 million units worth RM3.09 million.

Consumer products accounted for 97.01 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 145.89 million, construction 36.89 million, trade and services 357.7 million, technology 38.84 million, infrastructure 10.84 million, SPAC 6.95 million, finance 42.13 million, hotels 7.46 million, properties 127.12 million, plantations 16.01 million, mining 360,600, REITs 4.98 million and closed/fund 134,600. — Bernama