KUALA LUMPUR (April 5): Bursa Malaysia ended the morning trading session in negative territory on cautious sentiment amid global market uncertainties.

At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined 3.09 points to 1,426.52 from Tuesday's closing of 1,429.61.

The barometer index opened 0.32 of-a-point lower at 1,429.29, and moved between 1,425.71 and 1,430.20 throughout the session.

Market breadth was negative as decliners led gainers 365 to 308, while 323 counters were unchanged, 1,220 untraded and 21 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.43 billion units worth RM750.29 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd in a note said the global stock markets may remain shaky as investors turned cautious while assessing the impact of the resilient crude oil price.

"As the global sentiment turns cautious, investors may shift their focus from growth sectors such as technology towards safe-haven sectors," it said.

Among the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd eased one sen to RM8.65, Public Bank Bhd slid one sen to RM3.99, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd gained two sen to RM7.24, while CIMB Group Holdings Bhd lost five sen to RM5.28 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd lost two sen to RM9.23.

As for the actives, Top Glove Corp Bhd rose three sen to RM1.01, Revenue Group Bhd added 1.5 sen to 27 sen, Jade Marvel Group Bhd was flat at 31 sen, while Fitters Diversified Bhd lost one sen to seven sen and Pesona Metro Holdings Bhd shed 2.5 sen to 20.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased 15.56 points to 10,477.08, the FBMT 100 Index declined 14.95 points to 10,161.05 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index eased 8.86 points to 10,785.75.

The FBM 70 Index went up 9.17 points to 13,654.05 and the FBM ACE Index was 23.01 points lower at 5,306.92.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index dipped 30.19 points to 15,749.31, the Industrial Products and Services Index eased 0.27 of-a-point to 172.89, while the Energy Index ticked up 0.01 of-a-point to 875.71, and the Plantation Index gained 7.29 points to 6,714.87.