KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 ― Bursa Malaysia pared earlier losses to turn flat at mid-afternoon amid lacklustre trading as investors seemed reluctant to make more significant moves due to lack of buying catalysts.

At 3pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slipped by 0.15 of-a-point to 1,435.74 from yesterday's close of 1,435.89.

The barometer index opened 1.13 points higher at 1,437.02.

The market breadth was negative as decliners surpassed gainers 457 to 305, while 399 counters were unchanged, 1,102 untraded and 23 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.91 billion units worth RM997.85 million.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank decreased four sen to RM8.69, Tenaga Nasional slipped 11 sen to RM9.02, CIMB was flat at RM5.22, while Public Bank rose five sen to RM4.04 and Petronas Chemicals increased three sen to RM7.41.

As for the actives, Revenue added 7.5 sen to 34.5 sen, Hong Seng gained half-a-sen to 13 sen, Vinvest Capital and Tanco were flat each at 20 sen and 47 sen, while Top Glove shed five sen to RM1.10.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index improved 1.75 points to 10,556.54, the FBMT 100 Index perked up 1.31 points to 10,236.80, the FBM 70 index put on 11.74 points to 13,797.50, while the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 16.97 points to 10,894.96, and the FBM ACE Index was 12.24 points lower at 5,334.09.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index garnered 27.00 points to 15,810.67, the Energy Index expanded by 10.34 points to 883.16, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.01 of-a-point to 175.29, and the Plantation Index slipped 4.45 points to 6,836.08. ― Bernama