KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Bursa Malaysia pared earlier losses in the last 10 minutes of trading to finish slightly lower on bargain hunting.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slid 2.04 points to close at 1,672.72 from the close yesterday of 1,674.76.

It opened 3.24 points weaker at 1,671.52 and moved between 1,660.92 and 1,672.72 through the day.

Market breadth was negative with losers leading gainers by 438 to 347, 359 counters unchanged, 580 counters untraded and 36 others suspended.

Total volume decreased to 1.50 billion shares worth RM2.09 billion, from yesterday’s 1.78 billion shares valued at RM2.31 billion.

A dealer said the local market tracked its regional peers, which remained subdued with negative sentiment brought about by the unexpected decision of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to hold its monetary policy.

“The BoJ’s inaction surprised investors, dragged risk appetite and weighed on global equity markets,” he said.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank added 3 sen to RM8.93, TNB rose 16 sen to RM14.36, Petronas Chemicals gained 1 sen to RM6.71, IHH declined 7 sen to RM6.55 and Public Bank was flat at RM18.70.

Among active stocks, SapuraKencana and Vivocom added 1 sen each to RM1.65 and 32.5 sen respectively. YKGI warrant improved 3 sen to 7.5 sen and AirAsia X eased 0.5 sen to 34 sen.

The FBM Emas Index fell 21.93 points to 11,638.02, the FBMT100 Index decreased 22.91 points to 11,334.19 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index eased 8.54 points to 12,208.99.

The FBM 70 fell 58.85 points to 12,970.66 while the FBM Ace improved 9.93 points to 5,617.09.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index reduced 48.98 points to 14,587.30, the Industrial Index slipped 33.11 points to 3,174.10 and the Plantation Index slid 2.05 points to 7,710.85.

Main Market turnover fell to 1.04 billion units worth RM2.0 billion from yesterday’s volume of 1.31 billion units worth RM2.23 billion.

The ACE Market turnover rose to 250.75 million shares valued at RM51.91 million, from 242.31 million shares valued at RM48.24 million recorded yesterday.

Warrants declined to 204.29 million units worth RM30.51 million from 224.28 million units worth RM32.57 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 190.37 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (207.97 million), construction (45.14 million), trade and services (385.33 million), technology (51.46 million), infrastructure (11.05 million), SPAC (27.28 million), finance (40.73 million), hotels (1.57 million), properties (63.93 million), plantations (13.67 million), mining (3,000), REITs (2.5 million) and closed/fund (100). — Bernama