KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Selling on Bursa Malaysia continued at midday on Monday (March 27), with the overall market breadth remaining mixed. 

The FBM KLCI managed to stay in positive territory and above the 1,400-point level, aided by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas)-related counters.

At 12.30pm, the main index had increased 1.25 points to 1,400.95, compared with last Friday's close at 1,399.70. 

The market bellwether also opened 1.25 points higher at 1,400.95, and fluctuated between 1,399.82 and 1.404.65 in the morning session.

The broader market breadth was negative, with decliners outpacing gainers 493 to 233, while 365 counters were unchanged, 1,181 untraded, and 24 others suspended.

Turnover amounted to 1.74 billion units worth RM777.41 million.

A trader said leads from regional markets were negative, as investors continued to assess the impact of the banking sector turmoil in the US and Europe, after International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva indicated that the risk of financial instability had increased. 

Also, US consumer confidence and gross domestic product data for the fourth quarter of 2022 should take centre stage this week.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics print showed profits of China's major industrial firms fall 22.9% year-on-year in the first two months of the year. 

Among Bursa heavyweights, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd gained 15 sen to RM6.82 and Petronas Gas Bhd bagged 34 sen to RM16.46, but Petronas Dagangan Bhd lost 38 sen to RM20.60.

Genting Malaysia Bhd added five sen to RM2.60, while Genting Bhd gained five sen to RM4.55.

Among the actives, AT Systematization Bhd was flat at one sen, Computer Forms (Malaysia) Bhd dropped one sen to 26.5 sen, while Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd was half a sen weaker at 12 sen, and Revenue Group Bhd was one sen higher at 28.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index narrowed 5.66 points to 10,252.52, the FBMT 100 Index fell 2.51 points to 9,949.32, the FBM Emas Shariah Index went down 8.20 points to 10,591.01, the FBM 70 Index trimmed 50.61 points to 13,247.11, and the FBM ACE Index dropped 43.98 points to 5,259.84.    

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index reduced 15.59 points to 15,433.93, the Energy Index gave up 9.45 points to 793.43, the Plantation Index shaved off 9.14 points to 6,704.79, but the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.79 of a point to 166.33.