KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): The FBM KLCI fell 0.71% at the midday break today and was poised to end the trading day at the lowest level for the month.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI lost 11.26 points to 1,572.51.

Losers led gainers by 409 to 198, while 493 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.54 billion shares valued at RM1.09 billion.

The top losers included Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Pentamaster Corp Bhd, Chin Teck Plantations Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, MISC Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd and Muda Holdings Bhd.

The actives included Pentamaster Corp Bhd, KNM Group Bhd, Priceworth International Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd and DGB Asia Bhd.

The gainers included Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Zecon Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd, Master-Pack Group Bhd, Sarawak Cable Bhd, KLCC Property Holdings Bhd and Ta Ann Holdings Bhd.

Asian markets slipped on Friday, leaving global shares just short of an all-time peak as investors turned cautious, fearing a new US law backing Hong Kong protesters could torpedo efforts to end the US-China trade war, according to Reuters.

MSCI All Country World Index, which tracks shares in 49 countries, was up 0.08% at 548.88, only 0.3% away from all-time peak hit in January last year before the start of US-China trade war, it said.

Affin Hwang Capital Research said the FBM KLCI was down 3.41 points or 0.22% on Thursday to close at 1,583.77, the lowest close for the month, mainly due to lack of bullish catalysts locally as well as regionally.

"Consolidation phase still in progress for the index with all key technical indicators are in congruence with each other suggesting gloomy outlook in the near term.

"Going forward, anticipate market to drift sideways with a downward bias.

"Short-term consolidation in progress," it said.