KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia continued its decline to close lower for a second consecutive day amid lacklustre trading.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 5.47 points to 1,531.51 from yesterday's close of 1,536.98.
Throughout the day, the benchmark index opened 4.53 points lower at 1,532.45 and stayed within a narrow range, fluctuating between 1,527.92 and 1,535.20.
On the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 588 to 422, while 439 counters were unchanged.
Turnover declined to 3.65 billion units worth RM2.66 billion from 3.81 billion units worth RM2.80 billion yesterday.
Malacca Securities Research said the FBM KLCI closed lower, in line with the mixed regional stock markets' performances and weaker trading tone in the US.
The firm added that the key index was dragged by selected telco, utilities and healthcare heavyweights such as CelcomDigi Bhd (-8.0 sen), YTL Power International Bhd (-11.0 sen) and IHH Healthcare Bhd (-8.0 sen).
"The plantation sector, which was up 0.58 percent, led the market, driven by buying interest in IOI Corporation Bhd, which rose four sen, and United Plantations Bhd, up 24.0 sen, as the price of crude palm oil (CPO) surged above RM4,000.
"While, the energy sector (-1.26 per cent) declined due to selling pressure in Velesto Energy Bhd, which fell two sen and Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, which dropped five sen," it said in a note.
Among the top active stocks were Harvest Miracle Capital Bhd (fell 1.5 sen to 12 sen), Velesto (fell two sen to 27 sen), and Widad Group Bhd, which closed at 9.5 sen.