KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): The FBM KLCI dropped 0.29% to remain below the 1,600-point level at the midday break today, in line with the fall at regional markets on global economic growth concerns.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 4.6 points to 1,587.73.

Losers led gainers by 353 to 151, while 503 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.22 billion shares valued at RM758.42 million.

The losers included Advanced Packaging Technology (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, PRG Holdings Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd and British American Tobacco (M) Bhd.

The actives included newly-listed MTAG Group Bhd, Green Packet Bhd, Vsolar Group Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd and MNC Wireless Bhd.

The gainers included Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, G3 Global Bhd, Magni-Tech Industries Bhd, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd and JMR Conglomeration Bhd.

Southeast Asian stock markets dropped on Wednesday as investors offloaded risky assets after the launch of a formal impeachment inquiry against US President Donald Trump raised prospects of more political uncertainty in the world's largest economy, according to Reuters.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday launched a formal impeachment inquiry into Trump, accusing him of seeking foreign help to smear Democratic rival Joe Biden ahead of next year's election, it said.

Kenanga IB Research said Asian markets ended mostly higher yesterday after US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin confirmed the resumption of US-China trade talks in two weeks' time.

"However, the FBM KLCI marginally inched down by 0.6 points (-0.04%) to end the day at 1,592.33.

"Chart-wise, the underlying trend of the index remains bearish as the index remains below all of its key SMAs (simple moving averages). Key support levels to watch out for are 1,570 (S1) and 1,550 (S2). Conversely, overhead resistance levels can be found at 1,630 (R1) and 1,650 (R2)," it said.