KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Bursa Malaysia was easier at mid-afternoon today on subdued demand for selected heavyweights amid lack of catalysts, dealers said.
At 3pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was three points weaker at 1,714.42.
The index opened 1.08 points easier at 1,716.34 from yesterday's close of 1,717.42.
On the broader market, decliners outpaced gainers by 458 to 375 with 356 counters unchanged, 513 untraded and 23 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 2.16 billion shares worth RM1.78 billion.
In a note today, Kenanga Research said, the key momentum indicators were still tapering off in tandem with the flattish display by the Moving Average Convergence Divergence charts.
This suggested that the benchmark index could end the week on a lower note, it said.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose six sen to RM8.79 and Public Bank was two sen higher at RM19.82.
Sime Darby fell five sen to RM9.05 and Petronas Chemicals decreased six sen to RM7.31.
TNB was flat at RM13.74.
Of the actives, Iskandar Waterfront City rose 52 sen to RM2.28, Ekovest was up 18 sen to RM1.47 and Benalec improved 9.5 sen.
Hibiscus Petroleum declined 2.5 sen to 43 sen and Dagang Nexchange was one sen lower at 39.5 sen.
On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index fell 15.08 points to 12,119.37, FBMT 100 Index eased 19.11 points to 11,785.06 and FBM 70 Index decreased 17.14 points to 14,114.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index was 10.45 points lower to 12,539.95 and the FBM Ace fell 17.57 points to 5,310.11. On a sectoral basis, Finance Index fell 11.46 points to 15,391.01, Industrial Index was 8.04 points lower at 3,229.49 and the Plantation Index decreased 14.09 points to 8,070.57. — Bernama
