KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — The bellwether FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened lower today on lack of buying momentum.    

At 9.25 am, the index was 3.06 points lower at 1,700.70 from last Friday's close of 1,703.79. It opened 2.07 points weaker at 1,701.72.    

In a research note, JF Apex Research said the FBM KLCI is expected to consolidate above the psychological level 1,700 points today, despite experiencing a correction stage last Friday.      

Meanwhile, the US and European markets were closed on Friday for the Good Friday and Easter holidays.        

On Bursa, market breadth was positive with gainers leading losers 155 to 133, while 198 counters were unchanged, 1,259 untraded and 23 others suspended.

 Turnover stood at 220.62 million shares worth RM95.49 million.   

Among heavyweights, TNB and Public Bank gained two sen each to RM14 and RM18.54 respectively, Petronas Chemicals was flat at RM6.71, while Maybank declined one sen to RM8.88 and IHH Healthcare fell six sen to RM6.47.         

Of the actives, AirAsia rose five sen to RM1.86, as RGB International and Red Sena both added one sen to 16.5 sen and 40.5 sen.        

The FBM Emas Index slid 7.65 points for 11,804.07, the FBMT100 Index declined 9.30 points to 11,504.32, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index eased 5.66  points to 12,456.12.       

The FBM Ace weakened 21.48 points to 5,621.25, but the FBM 70 appreciated 30.98 points to 13,095.56.

Sector-wise, the Plantation Index went up 3.11 points to 7,876.07, the Finance Index contracted 17.31 points to 14,472.09 and the Industrial Index gained 1.41 points to 3,271.93. — Bernama