KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): The FBM KLCI fell in late trade on Tuesday, weighed by losses at select blue chips including Petroliam Nasional Bhd-owned (Petronas) counters.
The FBM KLCI shed 0.75 of a point to 1,631.60 at 5pm. There were 418 gainers and 350 losers, while 309 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.18 billion shares valued at RM1.87 billion.
At the regional markets, South Korea's Kopsi jumped 2.07% to 1,881.99; Taiwan's Taiex rose 1.56% to 7,270.49; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up 1.08% to 19,796.81; Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.69% to 8,695. 06; and Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.12% to 3,036.40. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.30% to 2,103.63.
European shares ended a three-day rally and oil fell on Tuesday as investors feared the recent gains built on anticipation of new stimulus measures from central banks in the United States and Europe had been overdone, according to Reuters. Speculation had centred on hopes the European Central Bank would announce a resumption of its bond buying programme at a meeting on Thursday to force down rising Spanish and Italian borrowing costs, despite German opposition to the move, it said.
On Bursa Malaysia, among the losers, PetGas lost 80 sen to RM18,50; BAT dropped 62 sen to RM59.74; PetDag retreated 40 sen to RM21; Carlsberg declined 22 sen to RM11.86; Hong Leong Bank fell 14 sen to RM13.66; DKLS was down 13 sen to RM1.16; Pharmaniaga lost 12 sen to RM9.48; Chin Teck depreciated 10 sen to RM9.05; Axis REIT shrunk nine sen to RM2.85.
Hubline was the most actively-traded counter, with 55.96 million shares done. The stock fell half a sen to 7 sen. Other actives included Luster, Naim Indah Corp, IHH Healthcare, Takaso, Harvest Court, Biosis, MK Land and Metronic. Gainers included Dutch Lady, United Plantations, KLK, F&N, Genting, Latexx, BRDB, KLCC Property and SAM Engineering.