Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia remained lower at mid-afternoon, reflecting the downbeat performance across regional peers as investors exercised caution ahead of the United States Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) policy meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow. At 3 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) decreased by 3.85 points, or 0.24 percent, to 1,608.93, compared to Monday's closing of 1,612.78. The index had initially opened higher by 6.36 points at 1,619.14.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the broader market saw decliners outpacing gainers 560 to 355, with 548 stocks remaining unchanged, 1,284 stocks untraded, and 11 stocks suspended. The market turnover was recorded at 2.23 billion units, valued at RM1.31 billion.
Regionally, several Asian indices faced declines, with Indonesia's IDX Composite Index decreasing by 0.62 percent to 8,656.91, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropping by 1.20 percent to 25,456.84, China's SSE Composite Index falling by 0.37 percent to 3,909.52, and South Korea's Kospi slipping by 0.27 percent to 4,143.55.
Among the heavyweights, CIMB Group saw a decrease of seven sen to RM7.83, whereas Maybank, Public Bank, IHH Healthcare, and Tenaga Nasional remained unchanged at RM10.12, RM4.37, RM8.51, and RM12.70, respectively. On the most active list, Main Market debutant Orkim rose by 1.5 sen to 93.5 sen, Velesto Energy and Ingenieur Gudang increased by half-a-sen to 25.5 sen and three sen, respectively, while Tanco dropped four sen to RM1.14, and Zetrix AI remained unchanged at 80 sen.
In terms of top gainers, Fraser and Neave increased by 26 sen to RM35.02, FCW Holdings surged by 20 sen to RM2.00, Petronas Gas climbed 18 sen to RM17.20, and United Plantations advanced by 16 sen to RM28.88. Conversely, among the top losers, Dutch Lady fell by 52 sen to RM30.98, Chin Teck Plantations slipped by 20 sen to RM10.80, Malaysian Pacific Industries declined by 18 sen to RM31.92, Gamuda shed 12 sen to RM5.08, and Vstecs eased eight sen to RM4.02.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased by 27.09 points to 11,898.38, the FBM Emas Shariah Index slid by 33.89 points to 11,750.98, the FBMT 100 Index dipped by 25.33 points to 11,685.86, the FBM ACE Index declined by 32.43 points to 4,751.20, and the FBM 70 Index lost 24.65 points to 16,627.38. Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index dropped by 21.31 points to 18,911.95, the Energy Index edged down by 2.28 points to 750.95, and the Industrial Products and Services Index eased by 0.48 of a point to 165.33. However, the Plantation Index climbed by 35.23 points to 8,064.44.