KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — Bursa Malaysia opened lower, extending yesterday’s profit taking activities ahead of US President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress today.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI stood at 1,691.09, down 2.79 points, from 1,693.84 recorded at yesterdays close. The index opened 2.74 points weaker at 1,691.10.

Market breadth was negative with losers leading gainers 146 to 115 while 214 counters remained unchanged, 1246 untraded and 47 others were suspended.

Turnover stood at 110.83 million shares worth RM57.65 million.

TA Securities said the local market was expected to extend profit-taking consolidation, pending details on major policy initiatives to be announced by the US President.

Of heavyweights, Public Bank and TNB shed two sen each to RM19.92 and RM13.52, respectively, Petronas Chemicals slid three sen to RM7.27, Sime Darby gained six sen to RM9.13 and Maybank was flat at RM8.62.

Among actives, JAKS resources fell 20 sen to RM1.03, RGB International slipped one sen to 25.5 sen but IFCA added two sen to 49.5 sen while Sterling Progress and Perisai Petroleum were flat at 21.5 sen and seven sen, respectively.

The FBM Emas Index was 18.59 points lower at 11,922.26, FBM Emas Shariah Index reduced 17.87 points to 12,357.33, the FBMT100 Index declined 16.73.

The FBM Ace increased 10.51 points to 5,297.65.

On a sectoral basis, the Finance Index decreased 23.70 points to 15,020.87, the plantation Index shed 0.44 of a point to 8,078.27 but the Industrial Index  edged up 0.17 of a point to 3,259.51. — Bernama