KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FBM KLCI pared losses over the morning session after descending nearly nine points on profit-taking activity.
At the lunch break, the key index was down 3.94 points to 1,383.89, weighed down by sharp losses in Maxis and Press Metal
.
There were 428 decliners on the market compared to 300 gainers. The trading volume was 1.25 billion shares valued at RM716.57mil.
The sentiment in regional markets was soft on Monday as investors awaited the outcome of more central bank meetings and economic stimulus measures from China.
Also weighing on sentiment was the growing odds of an interest rate hike at the two upcoming Fed meetings.
According to CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of the US central bank raising rates by 25 basis points (bps) in July stood at 74.4% while the chances of a September 25bps interest rate hike stood at 67.1%.
Japan's market was among the leading laggards in the region after its benchmark Nikkei index fell 1.1% to 33,345, while South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.8% to 2,605.
China's composite index was down 0.6% to 3,252 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.5% to 19,742.
On Bursa Malaysia, Maxis dove 43 sen to RM4.12 and Press Metal slumped 16 sen to RM4.74, erasing a combined eight points from the FBM KLCI.
IHH fell seven sen to RM5.89 while CelcomDigi shed six sen to RM4.24.
Other notable decliners included Genting down 16 sen to RM4.19, MAHB sliding 14 sen to RM6.89 and DKSH falling 11 sen to RM5.18.
Top actives included SCIB up 1.5 sen to 42 sen, KNM unchanged at 8.5 sen and Boustead Plantations climbing nine sen to 98 sen.
