Bursa Malaysia recorded a decline at midday Friday following continued profit-taking activity in high-priced shares, especially banking and utility shares.
At 12.30 midday, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was down 0.04 points at 1,553.20 from its close of 1,553.24 on Thursday.
The benchmark index opened 2.17 points lower at 1,551.07 and it bounced between 1,547.96 and 1,555.42 throughout the morning session.
Market sentiment is negative with loss counters beating profit counters, namely 531 to 368. Meanwhile, 425 counters are unchanged, 996 are not trading and the other nine are suspended.
The number of merchandise was 2.43 billion units worth RM1.23 billion.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said the market is now favoring small caps and low stakes as the local firm is at its highest position for the 52nd week.
However, the market focus is focused on the oil and gas sector, gold and the underlying prices of their respective firms.
In high equity shares, Malayan Banking Bhd fell five sen to RM9.64, Public Bank Bhd fell three sen to RM4.18, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd was unchanged at RM6.65, Bahan Nasional Bhd fell four sen to RM11.46, but Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd rose four sen to RM6.79.
For the most active stocks, Velesto Energy Bhd fell 2.5 sen to 28 sen, TDM Bhd rose half a sen to 33 sen, but Bina Puri Holdings Bhd was unchanged at eight sen, and Dagang NeXchange Bhd added one sen to 37 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index fell 4.10 points to 11,684.86, the FBMT 100 Index lost 0.16 points to 11,322.03, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index regained 17.64 points to 11,839.71.
The FBM 70 Index rose 0.18 points to 16,300.62, but the FBM ACE Index fell 46.80 points to 4,949.75.
In terms of sectors, the Financial Services Index fell 53.96 points to 17,241.80, the Agriculture Index increased 30.18 points to 7,436.67, and the Industrial Products and Services Index rose 1.42 points to 184.54. While the Energy Index decreased by 10.00 points to 97.70.
