KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 30): The weak market sentiment took a toll on Bursa Malaysia at midday on Friday (Sept 30), with the benchmark index ending the morning trading session almost flat.

At 12.30pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) added 0.44 of-a-point to 1,397.94 from Thursday's close of 1,397.5.

The benchmark index, which opened 2.21 points easier at 1,395.29, moved between 1,390.41 and 1,398.33 throughout the morning trading session.

On the broader market, decliners outpaced advancers 503 to 210, while 355 counters were unchanged, 1,315 untraded and 37 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 929.54 million units worth RM678.51 million.

Among the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) added two sen to RM8.58, and IHH Healthcare Bhd, too, gained two sen to RM5.94. Public Bank Bhd rose by one sen to RM4.21, while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, also, increased one sen to RM8.40.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd was flat at RM5.15, and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) dipped 13 sen to RM8.12.

Of the actives, Top Glove Corp Bhd increased 1.5 sen to 60 sen, Green Ocean Corp Bhd edged up half-a-sen to 1.5 sen, PT Resources Holdings Bhd was flat at 43.5 sen, and Widad Group Bhd was unchanged at 36 sen. Harvest Miracle Capital Bhd declined 1.5 sen to 10.5 sen, while Bina Puri Holdings Bhd edged down half-a-sen to three sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased 7.93 points to 9,973.51, the FBM 70 dwindled 31.62 points to 12,123.96, and the FBMT 100 Index gave up 3.74 points to 9,731.37.

The FBM Emas Shariah Index went down 21.29 points to 10,020.56, and the FBM ACE fell 14.86 points to 4,645.19.

Sector-wise, the Energy Index eased 6.88 points to 664.62, the Plantation Index weakened 7.57 points to 6,496.93, the Financial Services Index advanced 20.87 points to 15,903.21, and the Industrial Products and Services Index inched down 0.12 of-a-point to 169.85.