KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): Bursa Malaysia opened lower on Tuesday, following mild profit-taking activities after Monday's strong gains. 

At 9.16am, the FBM KLCI had eased 3.92 points to 1,460.75, from Monday's closing at 1,464.67.

The benchmark index opened 0.62 of a point easier at 1,464.05.   

The broader market was also negative, with decliners leading gainers 214 to 152, while 290 counters were unchanged, 1,692 untraded, and seven suspended.

Turnover stood at 329.98 million units worth RM140.34 million.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said stock accumulation will persist predominantly from foreign funds, and the benchmark index is expected to hover within the 1,460-1,470 range on Tuesday, and may surpass the 1,500-point mark soon.

Among the heavyweights, IHH Healthcare Bhd rose three sen to RM6.04, Hong Leong Bank Bhd went up four sen to RM19.32, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) was flat at RM9.11, Public Bank Bhd declined five sen to RM5.76, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd trimmed six sen to RM7.28, and Tenaga Nasional Bhd eased one sen to RM9.99. 

Of the actives, EA Technique (M) Bhd increased 3.5 sen to 37.5 sen, Ranhill Utilities Bhd at 91 sen and Salutica Bhd at 85 sen had both advanced three sen, while CN Asia Corp Bhd slipped half a sen to 18.5 sen. Meanwhile, Econpile Holdings Bhd at 31.5 sen and Tanco Holdings Bhd at 57 sen were both flat.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index slid 22.38 points to 10,787.05, the FBMT 100 Index dropped 22.26 points to 10,451.37, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index erased 22.26 points to 10,990.63. 

The FBM 70 Index dipped 4.94 points to 14,235.87, and the FBM ACE Index went down 4.48 points to 5,118.39. 

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index gave up 0.57 of a point to 172.60, the Plantation Index lost 21.84 points to 6,968.81, the Energy Index edged down 0.38 of a point to 876.09, and the Financial Services Index reduced 27.73 points to 16,428.09.