KUALA LUMPUR (March 2): Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session lower as its key index had slightly pared down its gains earlier. 

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI stood at 1,573.38, compared with 1,578.6 at 11am.

The key index opened 4.89 points higher at 1,572.03, compared with 1,567.14 at yesterday’s close, and moved between 1,571.17 and 1,583.43 throughout the morning trading session.

Market breadth was negative with losers outpacing gainers 606 to 474, while 442 counters were unchanged, 631 untraded and 14 others suspended. 

Total volume stood at 7.81 billion units worth RM3.73 billion.

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd said after a weak start, the market would continue to trade in a cautious mode as the development of Covid-19 vaccines would continue to weigh on index-linked glove makers.

Glove makers Top Glove Corp Bhd trimmed 10 sen to RM4.80 and Supermax Corp Bhd declined 14 sen to RM4.22, but Hartalega Holdings Bhd added one sen to RM9.39.  

Of other heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) gained four sen to RM8.10, Public Bank Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd increased five sen each to RM4.25 and RM4.27 respectively, while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) advanced 13 sen to RM7.64, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) appreciated eight sen to RM10.40 and IHH Healthcare Bhd jumped 23 sen to RM5.52. 

Meanwhile, Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLB) was flat at RM18 and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd fell five sen to RM9.70.   

Of the actives, Straits Inter Logistics Bhd increased five sen to 25 sen, Aimflex Bhd and Ablegroup Bhd both went up 2.5 sen to 27.5 sen and 21.5 sen respectively, while Dynaciate Group Bhd was flat at 13.5 sen, GFM Services Bhd fell 4.5 sen to 36 sen and AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) edged down half a sen to nine sen. 

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index bagged 29.32 points to 11,591.53, the FBMT 100 Index rose 38.36 points to 11,286.65, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index was 16.98 points higher at 12,905.78. 

The FBM 70 expanded 28.08 points to 15,501.41 and the FBM ACE dwindled 39.91 points to 10,665.46.  

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index soared 106.86 points to 15,066.51, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.63 of a point to 184.75 and the Plantation Index declined 13.95 points to 7,138.24.