KUALA LUMPUR (July 5): The FBM KLCI extended its losses at the mid-day break, as Asian markets took a breather from their recent rally.
At the mid-day break, the FBM KLCI fell 5.12 points to 1,608.63. There were 250 gainers and 338 losers, while 327 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 539.10 million shares valued at RM493.11 million.
A rally in Asian shares fizzled out on Thursday as markets marked time before the European Central Bank's policy decision later in the day, with the euro staying pressured by widespread expectations of a rate cut to support fragile eurozone growth.
Safe-haven US dollar outperformed with its index measured against key currencies gaining 0.5%. The ringgit fell 0.34% to RM3.1631 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil (CPO) futures for the third month delivery fell RM16 per tonne to RM3,106; crude oil shed 67 US cents per barrel to US$86.99 (RM275.28); gold gained 55 US cents an ounce to US$1,616.18.
At the regional markets, Japan's Nikei 225 fell 0.29% to 9,078.19; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.29% to 19,652.70; the Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.19% to 2,200.76; Taiwan's Taiex was down 0.47% to 7,387.47; South Korea's Kospi shed 0.04% to 1,873.72; and Singapore's Straits Times Index was down 0.09% to 2,951.48.
Among the decliners on Bursa Malaysia, BAT fell 30 sen to RM56.02; Far East was down 25 sen to RM7.40; Gold IS lost 14 sen to RM2.06; PPB dropped 12 sen to RM15.78; HLFG and UMS shrunk 10 sen each to RM12.18 and RM1.90 respectively; Wellcall and CIMB decreased nine sen each to RM2.10 and RM7.61 respectively; and KAF retreated eight sen to RM1.70.
The gainers included Genting Plantations, Pharmaniaga, Kulim,UMW, Carlsberg, FGV warrants and MKH. The actives on Thursday morning included FGV, Luster, Tricubes, Asia Media, DRB Hicom, MBMB Resources and WCT.