KUALA LUMPUR (June 8): Regional markets were mired in the red on Friday, reversing their gains from Friday as the excitement from an unexpected rate cut by China central bank appeared short-lived and worries over the eurozone debt crisis re-emerged.
The FBM KLCI lost 4.69 points to close at 1,570.62 , weighed by losses including at Genting-related counters. There were 376 losers, 288 gainers and 327 counters traded unchanged. Volume fell to 576.86 million shares valued at RM988.39 million, compared with 779.86 million shares valued at RM1.45 billion on Thursday.
Meanwhile, European shares, the euro and oil fell on Friday as hopes for a fresh round of global monetary policy easing dimmed and investors' focus swung back to Spain's banking crisis and the prospect of slower economic growth in Germany and China, according to Reuters.
Top European shares opened down 0.7%, the euro retreated to below US$1.25 (RM3.98) after a two-week high on Thursday and Brent crude dipped US$1.65 to US$98.30 a barrel, it said.
At the regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 2.09% to 8,459.26; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.94% to 18.502.34; Taiwan's Taiex fell 1.14% to 6,999.65; Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.79% to 2,737.89; South Korea's Kospi fell 0.67% to 1,835.64; and the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.51% to 2,281.45.
Among the losers on Bursa Malaysia, Genting Plantations lost 44 sen to RM9.06; Genting fell 23 sen to RM9.56; Nakamichi dropped 21.5 sen to 44.5 sen; Bintulu Port 20 sen to RM7; Allianz declined 14 sen to RM4.86; KLK retreated 12 sen to RM22.72; Ya Horng and Bonia fell 11 sen each to 50 sen and RM2.09 respectively; Country View was down 10.5 sen to 68 sen; and Asia File lost 10 sen to RM3.50.
Media Prima was the most actively-traded counter, with 301.3 million shares done. The stock was unchanged at RM2.22. Other actives included Affin, DSC Solutions, Ariantec, Axiata, YTL Corp, Flonic, Asia Media, Metronic and Focus. The gainers on Friday included Nestlé, BAT, United Plantations, Batu Kawan, Petronas Gas, Carlsberg, BAT, Glenealy, Lafarge Malayan Cement and Affin.