KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — Bursa Malaysia finished in the red as losses in heavyweights such as Hong Leong Financial, PPB Group and Genting put pressure on the index.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 6.53 points to 1,711.15 from the close yesterday of 1,717.68 after opening 3.81 points lower at 1,713.87.

The index hovered between 1,708.3 and 1,717.7 through the day.

Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 422 to 329 with 408 counters unchanged, 566 counters untraded and nine others suspended.

Total volume decreased to 1.49 billion shares worth RM1.9 billion, from 1.73 billion shares worth RM1.68 billion recorded yesterday.

Kenanga Research said the decline was in tandem with regional markets after crude oil prices deteriorated after the recent summit in Doha, attended by the world’s largest oil-producing countries, ended without any agreement on Sunday.

On the technical front, the research house said the index movement was pointing towards a heavy selling momentum.

“With the absence of fresh catalysts, we view that the FBM KLCI will trade tepidly within the 1,700-1,727 range this week,” it said in a note.

“Resistance levels are seen at 1,727 and followed by 1,750, while support are limited at 1,680 and 1,700.”

Leading the top losers list, heavyweight Hong Leong Financial fell 50 sen to RM15.18, PPB Group lost 20 sen to RM16.38 and Genting shed 19 sen to RM8.99.

As for other heavyweights, Maybank fell 8 sen to RM9.08, TNB added 2 sen to RM14.14 and Public Bank declined 8 sen to RM19.

Market debutant Pecca Group was one of the most active counters today, gaining 29 sen to RM1.71 with 59.6 million shares transacted.

The FBM Emas Index declined 33.38 points to 11,888.99, the FBMT100 Index decreased 34.89 points to 11,583.87 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index lost 31.06 points to 12,454.37.

The FBM 70 eased 6.53 points to 13,218.05 but the FBM Ace gained 23.35 points to 5,670.34.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index lost 56.87 points to 14,837.38, the Industrial Index trimmed 5.98 points to 3,374.4 and the Plantation Index decreased 15.72 points to 7,755.36.

Main Market turnover declined to 1.13 billion units worth RM1.84 billion, from 1.24 billion units worth RM1.61 billion recorded yesterday.

The ACE Market turnover fell to 208.19 million shares valued at RM45.83 million, from 303.34 million shares valued at RM54.74 million previously.

Warrants decreased to 149.81 million valued at RM19.06 million, from 187.19 million valued at RM21.43 million yesterday.

Consumer products accounted for 317.38 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (231.16 million), construction (59.94 million), trade and services (331.29 million), technology (29.23 million), infrastructure (4.09 million), SPAC (16.05 million), finance (54.96 million), hotels (1.36 million), properties (53.27 million), plantations (25.42 million), mining (45,000), REITs (7.98 million), and closed/fund (11,000). — Bernama