KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): The FBM KLCI began June on a tepid note, as external uncertainties and weaker economic data from China and the US weighed on sentiment.
Asian markets mostly ended lower on Friday, while European shares made limited gains on Friday, as lingering fears over the debt-ridden economies of Greece and Spain — which in May pushed major markets to their worst monthly loss since last August — weighed on investors' minds, according to Reuters.
The FBM KLCI fell 7.08 points to close at 1,573.59 on Friday. However, on a week-on-week basis, it gained 22.47 points. Losers beat gainers by 363 to 303, while 306 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 654.35 million share valued at RM1 billion.
At the regional markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.38% to 18,558.34; Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 1.2% to 8,440.25; South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.49% to 1,834.51; Taiwan's Taiex lost 2.68% to 7,106.09; and Singapore's Straits Times Index lost 0.97% to 2,745.71. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index recovered to edge up 0.05% to 2,373.44.
On Bursa Malaysia, PPB fell 70 sen to RM16.30; Dutch Lady lost 50 sen to RM32.54; BAT dropped 44 sen to RM54; both Carlsberg and Aeon Credit lost 20 sen to end at RM10.30 each; MASHB fell 18 sen to RM5.62; and Tradewinds Plantation, MBM Resources and Tenaga fell 16 sen each to RM3.84, RM3.08 and RM6.51 respectively.
Globaltec was the most actively-traded counter, with 38.8 million shares done. The stock fell half a sen to 10 sen. Other actives included Key West, SapuraKencana, Metronic, Asia Media, YTL Corp, Flonic, DSC Solutions and Permaju.
Gainers meanwhile included Nestle, Ekovest, Gold IS, Lay Horng, Top Glove, Petronas Dagangan, Panasonic, Hartalega, MNRB and JT International.