FBM KLCI ends lower on selling pressure

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia saw a follow through in selling pressure on Tuesday which took the benchmark FBM KLCI index lower.

At 5pm, the 30-stock index was down 7.46 points, or 0.53% to 1,411.54 after moving between its intraday high of 1,419.61 and low of 1,409.51.

The broader market displayed its weakness as profit-takers triumphed over bargain-hunters. There were 317 gainers, 517 losers and 399 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia.

On Bursa Malaysia, Heineken slid 32 sen to RM27.04, Hong Leong Financial Group eased 30 sen to RM17.50, Nestle fell 30 sen to RM134.70 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong declined 20 sen to RM22.60.

On the other hand, Hextar Technologies rose 50 sen to RM24.50, Rapid added 46 sen to RM20.46, YNH Property gained 19 sen to RM4.85 and Westports climbed 14 sen to RM3.82.

Meanwhile, the ringgit is traded lower against the greenback. The local currency is quoted at 4.57, down 0.46% against the US dollar.

Brent crude fell 24 cents to US$75.75 a barrel while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate declined 22 cents to US$71.83 a barrel.

Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was 0.43% lower.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 0.42% lower at 30,957.77 while South Korea’s Kospi closed up 0.41%, at 2,567.55.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 1.25%, at 19,431.25.

CSI300 index edged down 1.41% to 3,913.19, while the Shanghai Composite Index ended 1.52% lower at 3,246.24 points.