KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Bursa Malaysia ended the morning trading session lower on lack of buying momentum.   

At lunch break, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) shed 4.9 points to 1,584.11 from Friday’s close of 1,589.01.

The barometer index opened 2.63 points firmer at 1,591.64 — the highest so far in the day — and fell as low as 1,582.56 during the session.

On the broader market, losers trumped gainers 489 versus 260, while 392 counters were unchanged, 1,108 untraded and 24 others suspended.

Total turnover stood at 1.39 billion units worth RM775.51 million.

In a note, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said the energy and plantation stocks would continue to outperform on the back of elevated commodity prices amid the unresolved conflict in Ukraine.

“Meanwhile, we opine that the aviation and consumer sectors will be on traders’ radar in line with the recovery of economic activities,” the brokerage said.

Among the market heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd slid one sen to RM8.78, Public Bank Bhd eased two sen to RM4.65, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd added six sen to RM10.38, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd gained two sen to RM6.54, and IHH Healthcare Bhd stayed flat at RM6.40.

Of the actives, Cengild Medical Bhd rose 10.5 sen to 43.5 sen, Techna-X Bhd increased half-a-sen to 10 sen, China Ouhua Winery Holdings Ltd and Vizione Holdings Bhd lost half-a-sen each to seven sen and 9.5 sen, respectively, and Key Alliance Group Bhd was unchanged at one sen.

On the index board, the FBMT 100 Index declined 41.62 points to 11,019.72, the FBM Emas Index was 41.71 points easier at 11,371.99, the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 31.69 points to 12,015.88, the FBM 70 lost 82.5 points to 13,698.85, and FBM ACE dropped 46.1 points to 5,740.4.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.38 of-a-point to 214.85 and the Plantation Index added 20.89 points to 8,376.16, while the Financial Services Index dipped 92.9 points to 16,543.1.