KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended easier today after trading yesterday closed higher on a technical rebound.

At 5pm today, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBMKLCI) fell 20.95 points to 1,744.57, after opening 17.35 points lower at 1,748.17.

A dealer said the share prices were back in the red as investors remained on the sidelines following news that global oil prices are expected to decline further to US$43 per barrel in the second quarter of next year, from the current US$65 per barrel.

Oil and gas-related stock Petronas Gas saw its shares go down 54 sen to RM21.92 while SapuraKencana eased 5 sen to RM2.37.

However, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the listing today of EA Technique (M) Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Tajuddin Atan said sectors other than oil and gas, especially wood manufacturing companies, should begin to benefit from the decline in crude oil prices.

He said there are 906 companies listed on the exchange encompassing 60 economic activities.

At the close today, EA Technique, which owns and operates marine vessels, lost 16.5 sen to end at 48.5 sen.

On the local scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index dropped 135.81 points to 11,966.33, the FBMT100 Index 129.34 points to 11,703.38, the FBM 70 99.71 points to 12,954.50, the FBM Ace 131.16 points to

5,706.86 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index 165.44 points to 12,390.56.

On a sectoral basis, the Industrial Index inched down 27.70 points to 3,198.84, the Plantation Index 134.97 points to 7,815.21 and the Finance Index 122.44 points to 15,494.40.

Losers trounced gainers by 626 to 178 while 243 counters were unchanged, 667 untraded and 19 others suspended.

Total volume slipped 1.23 billion units worth RM1.50 billion from 1.21 billion units worth RM1.61 billion yesterday.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank fell 3 sen to RM8.87, TNB went down 24 sen to RM13.76, Public Bank was 34 sen lower at RM17.98 but Axiata rose 6 sen to RM6.98.

After EA Technique, Minetech topped the most actives list, adding 0.5 sen to 9.5 sen, but KNM and Perisai Petroleum were 4 sen lower at 42 sen and 45 sen respectively.

Main Market volume rose to 868.29 million units worth RM1.40 billion from 804.09 million units worth RM1.48 billion. Turnover on the ACE Market eased to 207.62 million shares valued at RM40.30 million from 247.39 million shares valued at RM52.43 million.

Warrants declined to 145.77 million units worth RM62.08 million versus 158.91 million units worth RM71.82 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 42.70 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 18.23 million, construction 31.99 million, trade and services 402.11 million, technology 34.44 million, infrastructure 17.85 million, SPAC 37.08 million, finance 39.43 million, hotels 229,900, properties 67.06 million, plantations 8.7 million, mining 175,800, REITs 4.24 million and closed/fund 14,200. — Bernama