KUALA LUMPUR: Blue chips kicked off April on a cautious note with the FBM KLCI falling more than five points on profit taking, dragged down by Genting Bhd
but the firmer China manufacturing data should shore up sentiment.
At 9.24am, the KLCI was down 5.07 points or 0.3% to 1,712.51. Turnover was 181.75 million shares valued at RM88.67mil. There were 122 gainers, 142 losers and 184 counters unchanged.
Activity in China's manufacturing sector unexpectedly expanded in March, an official survey showed on Friday, adding to hopes that downward pressure on the world's second-largest economy is easing, Reuters reported.
The official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 50.2 in March, compared to the previous month's reading of 49 and above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.
Asian shares and the dollar started the new quarter on a downbeat note on Friday as caution ruled ahead of surveys on global manufacturing and the latest reading on US jobs.
At Bursa, Genting fell 15 sen to RM9.65 with 128,900 shares done.
KL Kepong, Hong Leong Bank, Petronas Dagangan and PPB Group were among the top losers but with each counter seeing 100 shares traded.
KL Kepong fell 34 sen to RM23.66 and PPB Group eight sen lower at RM16.62 while heavyweight Sime Darby lost six sen to RM7.88 with 600 shares traded.
Hong Leong Bank 24 sen to RM13.26 and Petronas Dagangan 20 sen to RM23.90. MAHB gave up 10 sen to RM6.70.
Petronas Gas was the top gainer, up 20 sen to RM22.20 with 200 shares done.
Pestech added 16 sen to RM6.88 and Aeon 11 sen to RM2.84.
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