KUALA LUMPUR: Shares on Bursa Malaysia reversed earlier gains at mid-morning today, capped by mild profit taking.
At 11.08 am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was almost flat at 1,862.37, easing 0.21 point.
Axiata dragged down the composite index by 1.349 points. The stock fell nine sen to RM6.90 with 3.45 million shares changing hands.
On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index shed 4.51 points to 12,808.22, the FBMT100 Index declined 6.27 points to 12,481.24, the FBM Emas Shariah Index slid 5.43 points to 13,348.11 and the FBM 70 was 25.62 points lower at 13,769.11.
However, the FBM Ace rose 16.81 points to 7,373.57. On a sectoral basis, the Finance Index trimmed 2.22 points to 16,420.56, the Industrial Index eased 3.51 points to 3,412.65 and the Plantation Index erased 40.43 points to 7,709.1.
On the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 318 to 281, while 318 counters were unchanged, 898 untraded and 24 others suspended. Turnover stood at 731.1 billion shares worth RM470.7 million. Among actives, KNM shed three sen to 66 sen while both Compugates and Vsolar were flat at 5.5 sen and 36 sen respectively. Of the heavyweights, TNB rose six sen to RM14.66, Public Bank gained two sen to RM19.72 while Maybank was flat at RM9.42.
However, Sime Darby slipped three sen to RM9.25.
Earlier, the positive trend in Asian stock markets boosted sentiment on Bursa Malaysia with share prices opening higher this morning. At 9.09 am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 2.23 points better at 1,864.81 after opening 2.11 points higher at 1,864.69.
Market breadth was positive, with gainers beating losers 159 to 79, with 181 counters unchanged, 1,396 untraded and 24 others were suspended. Turnover stood at 138.34 million shares worth RM51.17 million. On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index rose 11.18 points to 12,823.91, FBMT100 Index improved 11.22 points to 12,498.74, FBM Emas Syariah Index gained 19.48 points to 13,373.03, FBM Ace increased 41.74 points to 7,398.50 but the FBM 70 fell 1.83 points to 13,793.46.
On a sectorial basis, the Finance Index was 10.87 points lower at 16,411.92, the Plantation Index eased 1.91 points to 7,747.62 while the Industrial Index gained 3.21 points to 3,419.37.
Among heavyweights, Maybank fell 0.01 sen to RM9.41, Axiata eased seven sen to RM6.92 but TNB rose 16 sen to RM14.76 and Public Bank was flat at RM19.70.
The actively-traded stocks this morning included Compugates Holdings, KNM Group, Connectcounty Holdings and Managepay Systems.
-- Bernama