KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI descended into negative territory as the domestic market continued to consolidate amid an absence of fresh leads.
At 12.30pm, the key index was down 3.76 points to 1,608.47 as investors took profit on blue chips following the recent strong rally.
The broader market was also notably negative with the number of decliners dwarfing gainers 835 to 280, while 444 shares were unchanged.
The total turnover was 3.37 billion shares valued at RM1.91bil.
Declining shares included Telekom down six sen to RM6.75, Press Metal
falling nine sen to RM5.79 and PETRONAS Dagangan sliding 28 sen to RM17.50.
Banks were mixed, with laggards comprising CIMB down eight sen to RM6.75 and RHB falling two sen to RM5.51.
Of actives, JCY fell 3.5 sen to 79.5 sen, JAKS was flat at 18 sen and MYEG was unchanged at RM1.07.
Regionally, markets were mixed with Hong Kong's Hang Seng being the best performer, rising 2% to 18,264.
The Straits Times Index also gained 0.43% to 3,315.
Japan's Nikkei was little changed at 38,470 and China's composite index fell 0.33% to 3,020.
