Of concern to investors was the ringgit which fell against the US dollar, pound sterling and the euro. The ringgit ended lower against the greenback at 3.9075 from 3.9005 while its weakened to 5.6416 to the pound from 5.5971 and was at 4.3986 to the euro compared with 4.3968.
However, the local unit was firmer against the weakening Singapore dollar and it was traded at 2.8875 compared with 2.8899.
Reuters reported world stocks, the dollar and oil all saw modest falls on Monday as investors locked in some recent gains ahead of the central bank meetings.
It said Japan's central bank on Thursday is likely to cut its price forecasts and debate whether a strong yen, weak global demand and soft consumption have hurt inflation expectations enough to warrant another hit of stimulus.
Among commodities, crude oil prices slipped after rising on Friday and notching their third straight week of gains as market sentiment turned more upbeat amid signs a persistent global supply glut may be easing, Reuters reported.
Brent fell 65 cents to $44.46 a barrel while US crude lost 77 cents to US$42.96.
At Bursa Malaysia, CIMB fell 11 sen to RM4.80 and erased 1.60 points from the KLCI after the recent run-up from just above RM4. HLFG lost 14 sen to RM15.04, RHB Cap seven sen to RM6.13, Hong Leong Bank six sen to RM13.62, Maybank four sen to RM9.91 but AmBank gained one sen to RM4.62.
As for oil stocks, Petronas Gas lost four sen to RM21.96, Petronas Chemicals was flat at RM6.70 but Petronas Daganagan jumped 28 sen to RM24.08 on late fund buying. SK Petro dipped one sen to RM1.77.
Chip makers and technology stocks fell. Chip maker Globetronics ended down85 sen to RM4.44, the lowest since January 2015. PIE lost 30 sen to RM13.30, MPI 23 sen to RM7.08 while Inari was down 16 sen to RM2.86 and Hong Leong Industries 11 sen to RM7.37.
Spring Gallery continued to attract heavy interest, with the shares surging 26 sen to RM1.22 and the warrants added 6.5 sen to 28 sen while the loan stocks lost one sen to 10.5 sen.
Crude palm oil for third month devlivery fell RM27 to RM2,662 as soybean extended its losses. KL Kepong added 14 sen to RM24.06, PPB Group four sen to RM16.40, Sime Darby gained two sen to RM7.95 but IOI Corp shed two sen to RM4.43.
Consumer stocks were the top gainers, with F&N up RM1.06 to RM22.28, Dutch Lady
40 sen to RM54 and BAT added 22 sen to RM54.72.
Among the key regional markets,
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.76% to 17,439.30;
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.76% also to 21,304.44;
CSI 300 ended down 0.41% to 3,162.03;
Shanghai’s Composite Index ended down 0.42% to 2,946.67;
Shenzhen Composite was down 0.41% to 1,859.90;
Hang Seng China Enterprise fell the most, down 1.48% to 8,986.33;
But Taiwan’s Taiex rose 0.29% to 8,560.28;
South Korea’s Kospi eased 0.05% to 2,014.55
Singapore’s Straits Times Index was the second worst performer, down 1.37% t 29,000.28;
Spot gold lost US$1.60 to US$1,231.43.
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