Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Investors cautious, Genting, Axiata slip

KUALA LUMPUR: Investors stayed cautious in the morning session on Tuesday, April 5 following the lacklustre regional markets while the weaker export data for February further weighed on sentiment.

Malaysia's exports totalled RM51.85 billion in February, 2011, which was a 10.7% increase from a year ago but it declined 5.5% from January. The exports in February were the lowest since September 2010 which then totalled RM50.47 billion.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 2.25 points to 1,553.23, weighed by losses including at banking and key blue chip stocks. Losers led gainers by 425 to 286, while 264 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 867.88 million shares valued at RM935.73 million.

The ringgit weakened 0.04% to 3.0270 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil for the third month delivery fell RM29 per tonne to RM3,345, crude oil slipped 38 cents per barrel to US$108.04 while gold rose US$2.23 per troy ounce to US$1,436.18.

Among the regional markets, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.47% to 9,575.68 as investors were unsure of the long-term impact of last month's massive earthquake and tsunami and a resulting nuclear accident that workers are still struggling to contain, according to Reuters.

The Tokyo market has recouped about two-thirds of its plunge in the days immediately following the disaster, but remains around 6% below its close on March 11, the day the quake struck northeastern Japan, it said.

South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.08% to 2,117.54 and Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.55% to 3,158.03.

China and Taiwan markets were closed on Monday and Tuesday to observe the Tomb Sweeping Day. Hong Kong was also closed.

Among the major losers on the FBM KLCI, Axiata fell four sen to RM4.82, Genting Malaysia nines sen to RM3.71, Genting eight sen to RM10.92 and IOI Corp three sen to RM5.71.

Among the banks, CIMB fell two sen to RM8.35, HLFG one sen to RM9.11 while AMMB, RHB Capital and Hong Leong Bank lost three sen each to RM6.53, RM8.67 and RM9.99 respectively.

The top gainers were Panasonic, Nestle and Coastal Contracts that rose 20 sen each to RM22.20, RM47.98 and RM3.61 respectively; Berjaya Food added 17 sen to 99.5 sen, Cypark 15 sen to RM3.20, Cocoaland 13 sen to RM2.35, Mudajaya and United PLANTATION []s 10 sen each to RM5 and RM17.62, while UAC and GAB were up nine sen each to RM3.38 and RM9.89.

SEAL was the most active with 61.1 million shares done. The stock rose 6.5 sen to 67 sen.

Other actives included Leweko, Digistar. MAA, TMS, Perisai, DBE Gurney and Zelan.

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