KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell into negative territory at close today, weighed down by losses in Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and plantation-related counters, dealers said.
At 5pm, the index was 2.16 points lower at 1,805.49, after fluctuating between 1,803.57 and 1,814.24.
TNB closed at RM13.80, down 18 sen while KLK, which is among the top losers, shed 40 sen to RM21.72 and BLD Plantation contracted 28 sen to RM7.72.
A dealer said losses on TNB and plantation-related counters eclipsed China’s stimulus news that had lifted regional market sentiment.
China cut its interest rate for the third time in six months to bolster its flagging economy.
The dealer said investors also remained cautious ahead of the euro zone finance ministers’ meeting scheduled for later today to discuss the directions of debt-laden Greece.
On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index declined 15.239 points to 12,454.78, the FBMT100 Index erased 13.96 points to 12,131.03 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index decreased 23.58 points to 12,933.22.
The FBM Ace went down 3.22 points at 6,994.52 and the FBM 70 slid 13.47 points to 13,502.18.
The Finance Index gained 22.36 points to 16,083.96 while the Industrial Index lost 22.92 points to 3,282.73 and the Plantation Index fell 56.91 points to 7,455.78.
Losers led gainers by 484 to 342, with 337 counters unchanged, 622 counters untraded and 10 others suspended.
Total volume was slightly higher at 1.54 billion units worth RM1.6 billion from Friday’s 1.52 billion units worth RM1.93 billion. BURSA-CLOSING 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR FBM KLCI TURNS NEGATIVE AT CLOSE - 2 For heavyweights, Maybank added three sen to RM9.32, Axiata garnered 12 sen to RM6.74 while Sime Darby eased one sen to RM9.02.
Public Bank was flat at RM19.28.
Among actives, Vsolar lost four sen to 17 sen and Luster Industries slipped half-a-sen to 10.5 sen.
Kanger, DGB and Frontken were flat at 26.5 sen, nine sen and 27 sen respectively.
Main Market volume fell to 795.72 million shares worth RM1.41 billion from 904.95 million units worth RM1.78 billion Friday.
Turnover on the ACE Market appreciated to 622.27 million shares valued at RM146.76 million from 519.59 million shares valued at RM121.67 million.
Warrants rose to 120.39 million units worth RM38.78 million from 92.08 million units worth RM25.72 million previously.
Consumer products accounted for 71.74 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (195.62 million), construction (37.04 million), trade and services (310.6 million), technology (40.19 million), infrastructure (12.59 million), SPAC (5.55 million), finance (40.9 million), hotels (10.47 million), properties (57.66 million), plantations (8.44 million), mining (34,000), REITs (4.69 million) and closed/fund (143,000). — Bernama
