KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 ― Bursa Malaysia ended lower today in line with regional markets as sentiment turned cautious over US Federal Reserve's plan to cut its US$4.5 trillion (US$1 = RM4.43) balance sheet later this year.

At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 5.11 points to 1,739.56 against yesterday's close of 1,744.67, after touching an intra-day low of 1,738.83.   

The key index opened 0.14 of-a-point higher 1,744.81.

A dealer said the cautious sentiment was due to concern over capital outflows from the region if the US central bank were to start trimming its massive balance sheet.

Reducing the balance sheet could be "upsetting” for markets if not handled right, he said.          

"Apart from that, the market would also monitor the development of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping today,” he said.

Market breadth was negative with 526 losers and 452 gainers, while 338 counters were unchanged, 393 untraded and 19 others suspended.

Volume decreased to 3.86 billion units worth RM3.0 billion from Wednesday's  4.44 billion units worth RM3.49 billion.  

Of the heavyweights, Maybank eased one sen to RM8.94, Public Bank fell two sen to RM19.92 and CIMB declined seven sen to RM5.49.

TNB, Sime Darby, Petronas Chemicals and IHH Healthcare were flat at RM13.76, RM9.32, RM7.77 and RM6, respectively. 

Among actives, SKH Consortium rose three sen to 14 sen, IFCA MSC gained 2.5 sen to 46.5 sen, Bioalpha Holdings increased two sen to 27.5 sen and Bio Osmo added one sen to 9.5 sen.

Dagang Nexchange shed two sen to 44.5 sen.   

The FBM Emas Index fell 43.23 points at 12,403.74, FBMT100 Index eased 44.70 points to 12,029.48 and the FBM 70 gave up 89.76 points to 14,677.56. 

The FBM Ace rose 74.02 points to 6,074.84.         

The FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 43.05 points to 12,879.16.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index declined by 47.94 points to 15,686.30, Plantation Index fell 26.74 points to 8,169.59 and the Industrial Index eased 5.59 points to 3,259.26.   

Main Market turnover eased to 2.62 billion units worth RM2.76 billion from yesterday's 3.27 billion units worth RM3.28 billion. 

Volume on the ACE Market rose to 985.87 million shares valued at RM215.38 million from 911.62 million shares valued at RM168.74 million yesterday.

Warrants increased to 251.43 million units worth RM29.35 million from 245.19 million units worth RM33.36 million yesterday. 

Consumer products accounted for 214.49 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (495.57 million), construction (174.45 million), trade and services (1.05 billion), technology (159.22 million), infrastructure (14.69 million), SPAC (4.67 million), finance (153.57 million), hotels (930,300), properties (312.91 million), plantations (23.08 million), mining (2,000), REITs (3.48 million) and closed/fund (37,700). ― Bernama