KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 — Bursa Malaysia ended lower today, dragged by negative sentiment ahead of the expected US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate increase, coupled with the lower oil prices, a dealer said.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined 5.11 points to close at 1,717.36 from yesterday’s close of 1,722.47.

The index opened 5.30 points lower at 1,717.17 and moved between 1,713.92 and 1,719.27 throughout the day.

On the broader market, losers led gainers by 480 to 395, with 386 counters unchanged, 453 untraded and 27 others were suspended.

Volume fell to 3.32 billion units worth RM2.23 billion from 3.92 billion units valued at RM3.25 billion yesterday.

A dealer said the Fed was expected to increase interest rate for the second time in three months, following the jobs data and the improvement in the economy. 

The Fed is scheduled to release its latest policy statement along with updated economic forecasts at 2pm EDT (1800 GMT).

He said the lower oil price of below US$48 (US$1 = RM4.45) per barrel also weighed down shares of the heavyweights on the local bourse, especially those oil and gas-related companies.

Petronas’ linked units, Petronas Gas fell two sen to RM19.76 and Petronas Dagangan dropped 42 sen to RM23.50.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank eased 10 sen to RM8.75 and Tenaga fell six sen to RM13.68. Public Bank rose two sen to RM19.86. Sime Darby was flat at RM9.13.

Of the actives, Priceworth inched up half-a-sen to 20 sen and Hibiscus Petroleum added two sen to 42.5 sen. Dagang Nexchange was 1.5 sen lower at 40 sen. Digistar was flat at 20 sen.

The FBM Emas Index fell 31.51 points to 12,143.63, FBMT100 Index decreased 33.79 points to 11,799.22, FBM Emas Shariah Index declined 17.85 points to 12,552.67 and the FBM 70 was 35.54 points lower to 14,108.11.

The FBM Ace, however, advanced 30.78 points to 5,403.43.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index gave up 73.47 points to 15,409.01 and the Plantation Index eased 10.81 points to 8,100.84.

The Industrial Index inched up 2.06 points to 3,240.53.

The Main Market turnover fell to 3.3 billion units worth RM2.23 billion from 3.92 billion units worth RM3.25 billion yesterday.

Volume on the ACE Market decreased to 425.47 million shares valued at RM94.01 million versus 466.22 million shares valued at RM88.03 million yesterday.

Warrants eased to 204.48 million units worth RM22.63 million against 266.55 million units worth RM27.14 million yesterday.

Consumer products accounted for 237.12 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (546.84 million), construction (197.85 million), trade and services (924.25 million), technology (288.69 million), infrastructure (20.75 million), SPAC (1.37 million), finance (48.63 million), hotels (5.21 million), properties (331.57 million), plantations (23.90 million), mining (131,100), REITs (17.70 million), and closed/fund (15,000). — Bernama