KUALA LUMPUR: After a volatile session, the FBM KLCI ended the first half of the day in the red after disappointing earnings results from Malaysia's largest telco dragged on the index.
At 12.30pm, the benchmark index was down 1.36 points to 1,590.92.
CelcomDigi slumped 27 sen to RM3.60 as analysts reviewed their projections on the telco following a contraction in its bottomline due to an impairment charge and higher depreciation charges.
Also weighing on the blue-chip index was PETRONAS Chemicals, shaving nine sen to RM4.01 and 99 Speed Mart, dropping seven sen to RM2.17.
The broader market was also mostly negative with 448 decliners compared to 379 gainers.
Dialog, which posted a RM129.49mil net loss in the quarter ended Dec 31, 2024, due to impairment charges, plunged 31 sen to RM1.50. It was the day's most actively traded counter, with 142.74 million shares done.
Entering the midday break, there had been 1.84 billion shares changing hands for a total value of RM1.12bil.
Elsewhere, Asian markets were mixed after some relief that US President Donald Trump did not impose reciprocal tariffs as expected this week.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng was the region's best performer, jumping 2.24% to 22,303, while China's composite index rose 0.25% to 3,340.
Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.67% to 39,195 while Singapore's Straits Times index lost 0.12% to 3,877.
