KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed lower today in line with regional markets following a weak economic data released in China today, dealers said.

At 5 pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined 2.1 points to close at 1,822.29, after hovering between 1,816.97 and 1,825.12 throughout the day.  

A dealer said most Asian stocks fell after the manufacturing purchasing managers’ index showed factory output in the world’s second-biggest economy contracted for the first time in six months.

“The data, signalling a further loss of momentum in China’s economy, weighed on sentiment,” he said.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index declined 22.069 points to 12,558.19, the FBMT100 Index decreased 18.011 points to 12,233.1 and the FBM 70 erased 35.2 points to 13,573.35.

The FBM Ace appreciated 0.71 of a point to 6,570.18.

The Finance Index dipped 107.301 points to 16,296.59, the Industrial Index was 4.22 points lower at 3,275.91 and the Plantation Index fell 99.88 points to 8,235.83.  Market breadth was negative with losers outpacing gainers 500 to 260 with 318 counters unchanged, 624 untraded and 21 others suspended.

Total volume decreased to 1.64 billion units worth RM1.62 billion from yesterday’s 2.1 billion units worth RM1.92 billion.  Of the heavyweights, Maybank lost four sen to RM9.56, Public Bank eased two sen to RM18.32 and Axiata shed seven sen to RM7.20.

TNB chalked up 24 sen to RM13.98 and Sime Darby gained 10 sen to RM9.75.  Among actives, Minetech earned half-a-sen to 17 sen, Systech added 4.5 sen to 29.5 sen, Jasa Kita gained 2.5 sen to 24 sen and Masterskill advanced 15.5 sen to 74 sen.  Main Market volume contracted to 1.06 billion units worth RM1.47 billion from 1.2 billion units worth RM1.66 billion on Wednesday.

Turnover on the ACE Market decreased to 542.8 million shares valued at RM148.63 million from 840.12 million shares valued at RM258.77 million recorded yesterday.

Warrants narrowed to 31.39 million units worth RM2.85 million from 55.28 million units worth RM5.79 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 62.44 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (314.53 million), construction (79.09 million), trade and services (417.12 million), technology (44.44 million), infrastructure (13.05 million), SPAC (16.20 million), finance (48.23 million), hotels (581,000), properties (54.41 million), plantations (11.23 million), mining (102,000), REITs (6.57 million) and closed/fund (79,500). — Bernama