Tuesday, December 20, 2011

KLCI drifts lower, sentiment cautious

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 20): The FBM KLCI drifted lower on Tuesday on mild profit-taking, as Asian markets remained shaky despite edging upwards after the sharp selldown on Monday following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

At the mid-day break, the FBM KLCI fell 5.14 points to 1,472.64. Losers led gainers by 352 to 274, while 277 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 849.18 million shares valued at RM509.99 million.

The ringgit weakened 0.25% to 3.1908 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery fell RM14 per tonne to RM3,006, crude oil gained 42 cents per barrel to US$94.30 while gold rose US$2.80 an ounce to US$1,597.07.

At the regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 edged up 0.54% to 8,341.20, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.54% to 18,168.61, the Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.16% to 2,221.68, Taiwan's Taiex added 0.43% to 6,661.99, South Korea's Kospi rose 0.88% to 1,792.50 and Singapore's Straits Times Index edged up 0.09% to 2,620.50.

On Bursa Malaysia, BAT was the top loser at mid-day and fell RM1.40 to RM48; PPB lost 40 sen to RM16.80, Tradewinds PLANTATION []s down 25 sen to RM4.30, Perak Corp 22 sen to RM1.12, HLFG and Petronas Gas down 18 sen each to RM11.52 and RM13.92, Inno 16 sen to RM1.34 and F&N fell 14 sen to RM17.96.

Gainers'' included Panasonic that rose 20 sen to RM20.02, Jaya Tiasa 11 sen to RM6.90, Dutch Lady, KAF, IGB and Tenaga up 10 sen each to RM23.40, RM1.43, RM2.43 and RM5.55 respectively, while Harvest Court was up nine sen to RM1.18.

Astral Supreme was the most actively traded counter with 66.2 million shares done. The stock edged up half a sen to 22.5 sen. Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd later this morning had issued an unusual market activity query over the sharp increase in price and high volume of the company's securities recently.

Other actives included Utopia, JCY, Gamuda and UEM Land warrants, and Wijaya warrants.

No comments:

Post a Comment