KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Shares on Bursa Malaysia, which stayed above the 1,800-point level today, ended in negative territory on renewed worries that the US Federal Reserve would scale back its stimulus ahead of schedule.

At 5pm today, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was quoted 2.13 points lower at 1,804.48, after hovering between 1,800.95 and 1,807.23.

A dealer said negative sentiment clouded the market today, as improved US gross domestic product (GDP) data increased expectations that the giant economy might begin to taper its monetary stimulus programme ahead of schedule.

“The US third quarter GDP grew beyond market expectations at 2.8 per cent.

“Investors refused to hold a position ahead of the weekend amidst bearish sentiments,” the dealer added.

On the scoreboard, the Finance Index rose 3.52 points to 16,723.49 while the Industrial Index fell 17.11 points to 3,105.98 and the Plantation Index was 1.73 points lower at 8,621.81.

The FBM Emas Index gave up 13.87 points to 12,558.83, the FBMT100 decreased 15.23 points to 12,281.67, the FBM70 Index was 20.89 points lower at 14,302.61 while the FBM Ace Index improved 54.18 points to 5,873.01.

Total volume stood at 1.92 billion shares worth RM1.9 billion.

Gainers edged losers by 404 to 353, with 330 counters unchanged, 502 untraded and 27 others suspended.

Among actives, 1Utopia gained half-a-sen to eight sen, Daya Materials inched up 1.5 sen to 39 sen and Sumatec rose six sen to 40.5 sen.

XOX was unchanged at 10.5 sen while Sersol lost one sen to 54.5 sen.

Of the heavyweights, CIMB chalked up three sen to RM7.62 while Axiata and Sime Darby were unchanged at RM6.86 and RM9.50 respectively.

Meanwhile, Maybank lost two sen to RM9.89 and Petronas Chemicals eased 27 sen to RM6.83.

Volume on the Main Market contracted to 1.26 units worth RM1.73 billion from 1.37 billion units worth RM1.77 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE market increased to 612.78 million shares worth RM149.45 million yesterday.

Warrants fell to 23.72 million units worth RM1.98 million from 31.54 million units worth RM2.72 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 136.78 million shares on the Main Market, industrial products 179.65 million, construction 40.50 million, trade and services 527.59 million, technology 83.19 million, infrastructure 26.10 million, SPAC 43.40 million, finance 80.14 million, hotels 1.86 million, properties 109.95 million, plantations 27.49 million, mining 15,000, REITs 12.56 million and closed/fund 161,800. — Bernama