KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed lower today with the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBMKLCI) down 11.58 points to 1,732, after opening 0.47 point higher at 1,745.04.

The decline in the Malaysian equities market was in contrast to the overnight US market, which rose following positive retail sales data, a dealer said.

Yesterday, the US Commerce Department reported an increase of 0.6 per cent in retail sales for November in the holiday shopping season.

“The lower global oil prices had boosted buying momentum ahead of the Christmas celebration and at the same time supported the country’s economy,” said the dealer.

“However, our local stocks do not seem to follow this trend as the oil prices are expected to decline further. Besides that, the ringgit is currently traded lower.”

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index fell 99.86 points to 11,866.47, FBMT100 Index 86.53 points to 11,616.85, FBM 70 130.05 points to 12,824.45, FBM Ace 154.36 points to 5,552.50 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index 140.96 points to 12,249.60.

On a sectoral basis, the Industrial Index lost 60.55 points to 3,138.29, Plantation Index 47.73 points to 7,767.48 and the Finance Index 31.40 points to 15,463.30.

Losers led gainers by 689 to 177 while 252 counters were unchanged, 596 untraded and 19 others suspended.

Total volume advanced 1.46 billion units worth RM1.78 billion from 1.23 billion units worth RM1.50 billion yesterday.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank fell 5 sen to RM8.82 while both TNB and Public Bank went down 2 sen to RM13.74 and RM17.96 respectively.

Topping the most actives list was MAS, which fell 0.5 sen to 26.5 sen. SapuraKenacana lost 17 sen to RM2.2 and Sumatec eased 1.5 sen to 18.5 sen. Compugates was flat at 5.5 sen.

Today marked the last trading day for the national airline’s shares on the Main Market before its suspension at 9am on Monday to execute the company’s selective capital reduction and repayment exercise.

The Main Market volume improved to 1.08 billion units worth RM1.69 billion from 868.29 million units worth RM1.40 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE Market advanced to 243.58 million shares valued at RM45.72 million against 207.62 million shares valued at RM40.30 million.

Warrants fell to 126.30 million units worth RM44.96 million versus 145.77 million units worth RM62.08 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 63.59 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 128.79 million, construction 45.45 million, trade and services 573.27 million, technology 37.42 million, infrastructure 14.53 million, SPAC 51.37 million, finance 42.07 million, hotels 295,800, properties 101.99 million, plantations 11.25 million, mining 246,000, REITs 6.83 million and closed/fund 39,500. — Bernama