KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended lower today, in line with most of the regional bourses due to the decline in oil and other commodity prices, dealers said.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell by 9.02 points to end at 1,715.53 against its close yesterday of 1,724.55.

The FBM KLCI, which opened 9.17 points lower at 1,715.38, moved between 1,710.87 and 1,720.98 through the day.

Among the top losers were Hong Leong Financial and Genting, which eased 44 sen and 40 sen each to RM14.96 and RM9.90 respectively. A dealer said the regional investors were also concerned about news the US Federal Reserve may increase interest rates sooner than expected.

Back home, market breadth was negative as decliners outpaced advancers by 514 to 318 with 357 counters unchanged, 557 untraded and 15 others suspended. Volume slipped to 1.69 billion shares valued at RM1.88 billion from 1.93 billion shares valued at RM2.44 billion yesterday.

For heavyweights, Maybank and Petronas Chemicals were flat at RM8.95 and RM6.71 respectively. TNB lost 12 sen to RM13.96 and Public Bank slipped 2 sen to RM18.78.

Among active stocks, EKA Noodles and AirAsia were 2 sen weaker each at 15 sen and RM1.84 respectively. AirAsia X shed 1 sen to 29.5 sen while Borneo Oil was flat at 15 sen.

The FBM Emas Index fell 58.99 points to 11,881.27, FBMT100 Index eased 59.21 points to 11,583.68 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index weakened by 43.42 points to 12,509.67. The FBM 70 gave up 60.83 points to 13,110.68 and the FBM Ace lost 23.09 points to 5,636.75.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index dipped 56.28 points to 14,614.62, Industrial Index contracted 8.96 points to 3,282.93 and the Plantation Index slipped 25.48 points to 7,967.31.

Main Market turnover fell to 1.13 billion units worth RM1.78 billion from 1.41 billion units worth RM2.37 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE Market eased to 227.09 million shares valued at RM46.29 million against 242.58 million shares valued at RM37.64 million yesterday.

Warrants surged to 327.63 million units worth RM51.54 million from 277.30 million units worth RM37.69 million yesterday.

Consumer products accounted for 207.97 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (209.08 million), construction (93.63 million), trade and services (420.89 million), technology (28.87 million), infrastructure (7.06 million), SPAC (27.35 million), finance (45.91 million), hotels (1.03 million), properties (60.29 million), plantations (17.38 million), mining (13,000), REITs (10.91 million) and closed/fund (nil). — Bernama