KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) futures contracts (FKLI) on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower today, tracking losses in cash market.

Phillip Futures Sdn Bhd dealer Thomas Yew Jia-Jong said FBM KLCI, which closed 7.35 points lower at 1,865.20 points, was dragged by banking and plantation counters due to the lack of a catalyst.

Bearish comments from the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Richard Fisher yesterday, that he would favour ending the US central bank’s massive bond-buying programme in October, also put pressure on the market.

“On regional markets, Asian equities retreated from a seven-month high as investors await the European Central Bank’s decision on monetary policy to be announced tomorrow.

“At the same time, they are also eyeing the US payroll data to be released later tonight,” he told Bernama.

At the close, June 2014 fell seven points to 1,867 points, July 2014 lost 6.5 points to 1,869 points, while both September 2014 and December 2014 eased six points each to 1,866 points and 1,864 points respectively.

Turnover shed to 4,182 lots from yesterday’s 5,031 lots, while open interest narrowed to 34,450 contracts from 34,862 contracts. — Bernama