KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): The FBM KLCI remained in negative territory at the midday break today, weighed by losses including at Malayan Banking Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI lost 5.72 points to 1,666.78.

Losers led gainers by 462 to 199, while 311 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.01 billion shares, valued at RM584.86 million.

The top losers included Panasonic Malaysia Manufacturing Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Only World Group Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd, Maybank, Genting Plantations Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd and CIMB.

The actives include Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, IFCA MSC Bhd, Dagang NeXchange Bhd, Malaysia Building Society Bhd, RGB International Bhd, KNM Group Bhd and PUC Founder (MSC) Bhd.

The gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Apex Healthcare Bhd, Genting Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd and Ewein Bhd.

Sterling slid to three-month lows in Asia on Monday, with investors again spooked by concerns over Britain's exit from the European Union, while U.S. policy uncertainty lingered ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, according to Reuters.

Regional share markets were hesitant with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up just 0.09%. Japan's Nikkei eased 0.3%, while Australia added 0.5%, it said.

AffinHwang Capital Research said the FBM KLCI is anticipated to take a breather, and support at 1650 seems strong and reliable.
“Upside potential remains with immediate target 1700 level,” it added.