At 9.25am the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was down 2.14 points at 1,528.19 from Wednesday's close of 1,530.33.
The index opened 0.89 points at 1,529.44.
It opened mixed with the key index falling by 0.14% as a result of declines by CIMB Group Holdings and Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank).
On the broader market, investors saw gainers outnumber losers by 218 to 187, while 300 counters were unchanged, 1,545 untraded and 27 suspended.
Total turnover at 521.96 million units worth RM232.6 million.
A note issued by Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said local market sentiment remained negative for the near term on technology stocks due to a volatile session on the Wall Street market as investors continued to smoke prepared against inflation.
He added that investors may be looking for opportunities in banking stocks ahead of the Menetari Policy meeting on Thursday while energy and plantation counters are expected to trade positive.
Heavyweights saw CIMB fall 8 sen at RM5.25, Maybank and RHB Bank Bhd decline 4 sen at RM8.28 and RM5.72, Axiata Group Bhd fell 3 sen at RM3.74 and Top Glove Bhd bud 2 sen at RM2. 22.
Petronas Chemiclas Group Bhd (Petchem) drove 5 sen to RM9.03, IHH Healthcare Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and Press Metal Aluminum Holdings Bhd rose 2 sen to RM6.58, RM9.09 and RM5.90 while Public Bank Bhd and Hong Leong Bank kekap at RM4.18 and RM19.50.
Active stocks saw Ace Market Coraza Integrated Technology Bhd jump 41.5 sen at 69.5 sen, Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX) added 2 sen at 93 sen and Artroniq Bhd rose 3.5 sen at 61 sen while Impiana Hotels Bhd remained 5 sen and Ageson Bhd fell 1 sen at 2.5 cents.
On the index board, FBM Emas Shariah was up 9.73 points at 11,679.82, FBM 70 added 10.8 points at 13,498.87, FBM Emas was down 8.52 points at 10,966.10, FBMT 100 buds 9.83 points at 10,675.85 and FBM ACE bloomed 26.90 points at 6,118.48.
The Products and Services Industry Index rose 0.59 points at 199.64, the Financial Services index declined 67.72 points at 15,776.89 while the Malay Plantation index 6.34 points at 6,664.58.
