Friday, July 29, 2011

Asian markets retreat on US debt ceiling impasse

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian markets retreated on Friday, July 29 as US stocks fell overnight with US lawmakers indicating that they were no closer to reaching an agreement to increase the debt ceiling and avoid default.

Urgent efforts to avoid an unprecedented debt default hit another snag when some rebel Republican lawmakers refused to back a budget deficit plan proposed by their own congressional leaders, who put off a vote scheduled for Thursday night, according to Reuters.

The FBM KLCI pared down some of its losses at the mid-day break as it remained in negative territory for the third day running.

The index fell 4.21 points to 1,547.70, weighed by losses including at MISC, KLK, BAT and PPB.

Losers beat gainers by 382 to 213, while 284 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 537.73 million shares valued at RM635.03 million.

The ringgit weakened 0.24% to 2.9552 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery fell RM8 per tonne to RM3,108, crude oil slipped 25 cents a barrel to US$97.19 while gold fell US$1.45 an ounce to US$1,614.50.

At the regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.46% to 9,856.16, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.73% to 22,407.01, the Shanghai Composite Index down 0.47% to 2,696.13, Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.90% to 8,688.62, South Koreas' Kospi down 0.78% to 2,139.13 while Singapore's Straits Times Index shed 0.23% to 3,182.48.

At Bursa Malaysia, MISC fell 22 sen to RM7.52, Tradewinds 21 sen to RM9.59, Tahps 20 sen to RM4.30, KLK 18 sen to RM21.58, BAT 12 sen to RM46.24, Far East and KNM nine sen each to RM7.11 and RM1.85, PPB eight sen to RM17.22 while UMS and BLD PLANTATION []s fell seven sen each to RM1.65 and RM6.35.

Among the gainers, United Plantations added 50 sen to RM20.50, Panasonic 30 sen to RM24.50, Tasek 24 sen to RM8, Genting 12 sen to RM10.80 and Petronas Dagangan 10 sen to RM17.94.

Actives this morning included Dutaland shares and warrants, Ingenuity Solutions, JAKS, DBE Gurney and Ramunia.

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