KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): The FBM KLCI lost 0.52% at mid-morning today, tracking losses at the regional markets.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI fell 8.98 points to 1,729.03.

Losers led gainers by 364 to 138, while 232 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 432.34 million shares valued at RM240.59 million.

The losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, Latitude Tree Holdings Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Far East Holdings Bhd and ViTrox Corp Bhd.

The actives included Sapura Energy Bhd, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd, Ewein Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd, Iris Corp Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Lay Hong Bhd and Prestariang Bhd.

The gainers included BLD Plantation Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Kumpulan Fima Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd, Genting Bhd and Paragon Globe Bhd.

Stocks in Asia fell on Friday as global sentiment soured on issues ranging from trade worries, Italy's 2019 budget, higher US interest rates and growth concerns in China that led to a slump in Chinese shares in the previous session, according to Reuters.

Early in the trading day, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.4% weaker following losses on Wall Street overnight, it said.

Kenanga IB Research said Asian markets fell yesterday following Wall Street's tumble after the Federal Reserve's September meeting minutes hinted more rate hikes ahead.

It said back home, the FBM KLCI fell 2.58 points (-0.15%) to close marginally lower at 1,738.01.

"Technically, the outlook remains bearish following the emergence of an earlier 'head-and-shoulders' reversal chart pattern. However, on the shorter term, we do not discount the possibility of a continuation relief rebound rally given improving signals from key momentum indicators.

"Key levels of resistance to look at are 1,760 (R1) and 1,790 (R2). Conversely, lower support levels can be identified at 1,700 (S1) and 1,660 (S2)," it said.