KUALA LUMPUR: The US-China trade tensions knocked investor sentiment early Wednesday, with key Asian markets and Bursa Malaysia opening lower.
At 9.06am, the FBM KLCI fell 2.44 points or 0.15% to 1,612. 13. Turnover was 87.53 million shares valued at RM38.09mil. There were 112 gainers, 153 losers and 122 counters unchanged.
Asian shares stumbled and global bonds rallied as investors fretted over the outlook for world growth with trade tensions between Washington and Beijing showing no signs of abating, Reuters reported.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last down 0.4% after three straight days of gains. South Korea's KOSPI and Australian shares were 0.9% lower each. Japan's Nikkei faltered 1.4% while E-Minis for the S&P 500 were 0.2% lower.
BAT fell the most, down 36 sen to RM33.08, Nestle 20 sen to RM146.80 while Carlsberg lost 16 sen to RM24.22.
MPI fell 31 sen to RM9.03, Latitude Tree 29 sen to RM3.60 while Padoni lost 20 sen to RM3.76. Genetech and Yinson each fell 14 sen to RM1.25 and RM4.90.
Panasonic rose the most, up 50 sen to RM38.40, HL Industries added 22 sen to RM10.98 and HL Bank 10 sen to RM19.04.
Tasek jumped 46 sen to RM5.51 after the Hong Leong Group, controlled by Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan, has offered to buy out minority shareholders in the cement producer for RM5.50 a share.