KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Stocks on Bursa Malaysia closed lower today with trading dominated by profit-taking amid the decline on regional markets, dealers said.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 4.51 points to finish at 1,873.87, after opening 0.71 of a point lower at 1,877.67. The FBM KLCI index moved between 1,873.59 and 1,879.91.

HLIB Research said the next market focus, following the conclusion of the Invest Malaysia 2014, will be the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off tomorrow.

The research house said the FBM KLCI’s performance was under pressure, with more subdued trading activities since the beginning of this month.

In a note, it said the index could face stiff resistance at 1,886 and 1,890, while key support remains near 1,870, 1,860 and 1,842.

Wall Street tumbled last night due to the World Bank’s forecast for lower global growth, and profit-taking.

The forecast also generated negative sentiment on regional markets. In Japan, the Nikkei closed 0.6 per cent lower at 14,973.53, the lowest closing level since June 2.

Back home, market breadth was negative as losers outpaced gainers by 400 to 313, while 374 counters were unchanged, 538 untraded and 16 others suspended.

Total volume declined to 1.18 billion shares worth RM1.45 billion from 1.39 billion shares valued at RM1.71 billion yesterday.

On the scoreboard, the Finance Index decreased 42 points to 17,151.91, the Industrial Index fell 11.7 points to 3,191.18, and the Plantation Index slipped 13.76 points to 9,237.9.

The FBM Emas Index was 32.899 points lower at 12,957.9, the FBMT100 Index fell 34.47 points to 12,600.69, the FBM Ace slid 34.35 points to 6,588.75, and the FBM 70 shed 54.57 points to 14,059.66.

Gainers led by BAT gained 42 sen to RM64.28. Uzma rose 36 sen to RM6.25, and DKSH 27 sen to RM8.60.

Among actives, MAS rose one sen to 20 sen, ETI Tech gained half a sen to 7.5 sen and Berjaya Corp improved 2.5 sen to 50.5 sen.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank fell 2 sen to RM9.84, Public Bank rose 6 sen to RM20.84 and Tenaga declined 12 sen to RM11.66.

Main Market volume fell to 1.01 billion units worth RM1.41 billion from 1.17 billion units valued at RM1.66 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE market fell to 136.04 million shares valued at RM36.02 million from 186.23 million shares worth RM46.53 million yesterday.

Warrants rose to 26.35 million units worth RM3.36 million from 25.51 million units valued at RM3.32 million.

Consumer products accounted for 69.12 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 195.7 million, construction 55.206 million, trade and services 380.5 million, technology 81.18 million, infrastructure 20.83 million, SPAC 45.58 million, finance 27.58 million, hotels 21.26 million, properties 96.78 million, plantations 8.24 million, mining 60,900, REITs 9.45 million and closed/fund, 8,000. — Bernama