KUALA LUMPUR (July 6): The FBM KLCI clawed back to reverse its losses and move into positive territory at the mid-day break on Friday.
At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI edged up 0.10 of a point to 1,614.53. There were 345 gainers and 270 losers, while 304 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 583.94 million shares valued at RM579.08 million.
The ringgit fell 0.34% to RM3.1730 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil (CPO) futures for the third month delivery fell RM10 per tonne to RM3,156; crude oil lost US$1.11 per barrel to US$86.11 (RM273.27); gold shed 13 US cents an ounce to US$1,604.55.
Asian shares slipped on Friday, taking their cue from falls overnight in global stock markets. Sentiment stayed cautious despite new stimulus steps taken by three major central banks, with the focus now on US jobs data due later in the day, according to Reuters. The US jobs report will offer clues about the extent of damage the eurozone's debt crisis is inflicting on the US economy and whether the Federal Reserve might also attempt more monetary stimulus, it said.
At the regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.56% to 9,028.91; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.40% to 19,729.40; the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.48% to 2,190.71; Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.97% to 7,332.82; South Korea's Kospi lost 0.97% to 1,857.37; and Singapore's Straits Times Index shed 0.30% to 2,962.53.
Among the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, BAT jumped RM1 to RM57; KLK rose 28 sen to RM24.18; KPJ grew 24 sen to RM6.16; Tasek added 18 sen to RM9; Lafarge Malayan Cement increased 13 sen to RM7.81; Kwantas and LPI Capital were up 12 sen each to RM2.10 and RM13.70 respectively.
Luster was the most actively-traded counter, with 338.4 million shares done. The stock added one sen to 10.5 sen. Other actives included Ideal Jacobs, Ingenuity Solutions, CSL, GPRO, Globaltec, OSK and MRCB. Decliners included Dutch Lady, PPB, Pharmaniaga, Mulphal, Eng Tex, BLD Plantations, Delloyd, MBM Resources and FGV.