KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia's key benchmark index stayed lower at the end of the morning trading session due to continued selling activities amid a mixed regional performance.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KCI (FBM KLCI) fell 0.05 per cent, or 0.81 of-a-point to 1,445.26 from Wednesday's close of 1,446.07.
The benchmark index opened 1.73 points weaker at 1,444.34 and moved between 1,440.62 and 1,446.15 throughout the morning session.
The market breadth was negative, with decliners outpacing gainers by 598 to 238, while 402 counters were unchanged, 1,130 untraded and 63 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 2.12 billion units worth RM1.16 billion.
Among the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd eased 1.0 sen to RM9.03, Public Bank Group Holdings Bhd and CIMB Group Bhd added 2.0 sen each to RM4.26 and RM5.66, respectively, while Tenaga Nasional Bhd fell 2.0 sen to RM9.86. Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd was 5.0 sen lower at RM7.03 and IHH Healthcare Bhd dipped 3.0 sen to RM5.80.
As for the most active counters, Kanger Group Bhd declined 1.5 sen to 7.0 sen, Velesto Energy Bhd added 1.0 sen to 23 sen, Top Glove Corp Bhd eased 3.5 sen to 82.5 sen, Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd rose 3.5 sen to 77 sen and Widad Group Bhd was half-a-sen better at 47.5 sen.