KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed lower today with the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) 8.48 points weaker at 1,767.17 from yesterday’s close of 1,775.65, a dealer said.

After opening 10.27 points weaker at 1,765.38, the index moved between 1,762.04 and 1,769.80 throughout the day.

The dealer said Bursa Malaysia’s lower close was in line with its regional peers in the face of the growing political uncertainty in the United States over President Donald Trump’s future, on news that he tried to interfere with a federal investigation.

"Sentiment on the local and regional markets is also weak due to the bearish performance of Wall Street as investors lose confidence in Trump’s economic policies. A potential delay of his business plans could see the market softening, moving forward,” he added.

Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 625 to 317 with 467 counters unchanged, 351 untraded and 31 others suspended.

Volume declined to 3.00 billion units valued at RM2.64 billion from the 3.45 billion units valued at RM2.88 billion recorded yesterday.

Among heavyweights, Petronas gave up four sen for RM19.00,  IOI Corp shed five sen to RM4.55,  YTL shed one sen to RM1.51, Axiata fell 17 sen to RM5.23, while Hap Seng improved one sen to RM8.93.

As for the losers, Aeon Credit fell 56 sen to RM18.82, Petronas Dagangan declined 32 sen to RM24.08, Kesm Industries shed 26 sen to RM13.20, Genting declined 23 sen to RM9.74, as Time Dotcom and Allianz each lost 22 sen to RM8.93 and 12.50 respectively.

The FBM Emas Index fell 68.29 points to 12,660.40, the FBMT100 Index declined 69.66 points to 12,288.02 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index slid 91.09 points to 12,992.36.

The FBM 70 dipped 121.48 points to 15,247.26 and the FBM Ace declined 39.95 points to 6,430.48.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index shed 62.22 points to 16,342.69, the Plantation Index decreased 45.39 points to 8,057.89 and the Industrial Index eased 1.88 points to 3,266.45.

Main Market turnover narrowed to 1.85 billion units worth RM2.48 billion from 2.28 billion units worth RM2.71 billion recorded yesterday.

Volume on the ACE Market decreased to 606.58 million units valued at RM98.81 million from 755.73 million units valued at RM112.49 million.

Warrants increased to 536.88 million units valued at RM67.52 million from yesterday’s 411.36 million units valued at RM58.97 million.

Consumer products accounted for 96.14 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (471.54 million), construction (173.51 million), trade and services (501.36 million), technology (69.04 million), infrastructure (17.99 million), SPAC (3.94 million), finance (73.86 million), hotels (932,500 million), properties (402.54 million), plantations (25.40 million), mining (2,100), REITs (13.71 million), and closed/fund (10,000). — Bernama