KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Bursa Malaysia was easier at today's opening on sluggish domestic demand in the second half of the year, dealers said.

At 9.05 am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 9.01 points lower at 1,660.60, against Wednesday's's close of 1,669.61. 

The barometer index opened 8.25 points weaker at 1,661.36.

Losers led gainers 121 to 87, while 159 counters were unchanged, 1,334 untraded and 17 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 83.78 million shares worth RM31.69 million. 

A dealer said the local bourse extended yesterday's weak close due to profit-taking after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the global growth expectation of 3.1 per cent this year and 3.4 per cent in 2017.

"This global growth rate cut announcement as well as weaker ringgit has weighed on local market sentiment," he added.

The FBM Emas Index declined 51.96 points to 11,626.47, the FBMT 100 Index fell 54.26 points to 11,319.61, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index depreciated 65.79 points to 12,195.48.

The FBM 70 shed 37.00 points to 13,196.80, but the FBM Ace was 28.90 points higher at 5,589.85.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index trimmed 52.70 points to 14,219.87, the Plantation Index slid 22.23 points to 7,578.84 and the Industrial Index eased 31.08 points to 3,122.51. 

Among heavyweights, Maybank was down one sen to RM8.11, TNB was flat at RM14.30, Public Bank slid six sen to RM19.50, IHH Healthcare reduced nine sen to RM6.51 and Petronas Chemicals fell four sen to RM6.59.

Of the actives, Salutica, which made its debut on the Main Market today, rose six sen to 81 sen, XOX increased one sen to 17.5 sen and Borneo Oil was flat at 19 sen. — Bernama