At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 9.48 points to 1,545.01 from Friday’s close of 1,554.49.
After opening 2.58 points firmer at 1,557.07, the index moved between 1,541.98 and 1,557.07 during the morning session.
Market breadth was negative as losers led gainers 540 to 224, with 296 counters unchanged, 923 not traded and 36 others suspended.
Turnover amounted to 1.42 billion shares worth RM863.12 mil.
In a note, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said it expects the outbreak to remain a key factor in dictating market sentiments, going forward.
“A pullback may see the key index supported above the 1,535 level. On the upside, further gains are located at the 1,570 level in the foreseeable future,” it added.
On the regional front, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index eased 0.77% to 27,193.17, Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.56% to 3,163.76 and the Jakarta Composite Index declined 0.66% to 5,959.72.
Among heavyweights on Bursa Malaysia, Maybank lost one sen to RM8.50, Tenaga declined 22 sen to RM12.52, Public Bank was 10 sen lower at RM18.24 and Petronas Chemicals decreased six sen to RM6.39.
Of the actives, ARB was down half-a-sen to nine sen, Securemetric rose half-a-sen to 21.5 sen and MTouche gained two sen to 18.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased 68.33 points to 10,991.84, the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 76.91 points to 11,689.30 and the FBMT 100 Index shed 67.25 points to 10,793.47.
The FBM 70 was 89.89 points weaker at 13,734.78, while the FBM ACE recovered 9.50 points to 5,531.28.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched down 0.68 of-a-point to 144.70, the Financial Services Index was 94.63 points weaker at 14,886.53 and the Plantation Index contracted 20.17 points to 7,287.74. – Feb 10, 2020, Bernama
