KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended lower for its sixth consecutive day, tracking regional markets as investors were shaken by tensions on the Korean peninsula and awaiting fresh signals about the US monetary policy outlook.
At 5pm, the KLCI was down 3.55 points or 0.2% at 1,765.59 points. There were 528 decliners versus 282 advancers and 435 counters unchanged. Turnover was 3.7 billion shares with a value of RM2.73bil.
Asian markets were mostly down but China and Hong Kong indices steadied as investors refocussed on China's improving economy.
The Hang Seng Index recorded a gain of 0.1% at 27,513.01 points following sharp losses in the previous close. The Hang Seng China Enterprise rose 0.5% to 10,968.39 points
The CSI300 index rose 0.1% to 3,820.78 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.1% to 3,343.58 points.
South Korean shares fell for the sixth consecutive session on Tuesday and finished near two-week lows, while the won weakened over US-North Korean tensions, Reuters reported.
The Kospi closed 0.3% lower at 2,374.32 points, its lowest close since Sept 14.
Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3% to 20,330.19 points, moving away from a two-year high as tech stocks and Apple suppliers declined in tandem with US tech shares overnight.
In other key regional markets, Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.76% to 10,257.02 points while Singapore’s Straits Times Index posted a loss of 0.12% at 3,212.04 points.
At Bursa, Petronas-related stocks weighed with Petronas Gas dropping 34 sen to RM18.10 and Petronas Chemicals falling three sen to RM7.32. Petronas Dagangan rose 20 sen to RM24.46.
Heavyweights Genting dropped eight sen to RM9.68, Genting Malaysia shaved eight sen to RM5.42 and Sime Darby fell six sen to RM4.85
In the telco sector, Digi declined six sen to RM4.85 while Telekom Malaysia dropped four sen to RM6.35.
Plantations players were also on the decline with IOI dropping two sen to RM4.53, KL Kepong falling six sen to RM24.26 and PPB losing four sen to RM16.80.
Banking stocks were mixed with Maybank gaining two sen to RM9.80, Ambank rising three sen to RM4.40 and CIMB rising three sen to RM6.34. Meanwhile, RHB dropped two sen to RM5.14, Hong Leong fell eight sen to RM15.80 and Public Bank lost four sen to RM20.56.
In key commodities, WTI Crude was down 0.54% to US$51.94 a barrel while Brent Crude fell 0.76% to US$58.57 a barrel. Spot gold lost 0.33% to US$1,306.41 per troy ounce.
On the forex market, the ringgit was 0.08% weaker against the US dollar at 4.2078, but 0.18% stronger against the pound sterling at 5.6724 and 0.14% stronger against the Singapore dollar at 3.1084.
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