KUALA LUMPUR: Profit-taking in local blue-chips on Bursa Malaysia was capped by underlying optimism following the share's recent breakout.
While some selling was expected after the previous day's rally and ahead of the expected four-day holiday weekend, the FBM KLCI was down only 3.69 points to 1,532.04.
The benchmark index retained most of its 18-point increase from the previous day, even as most regional markets slumped in anticipation of Trumps' trade tariffs next week.
The ratio of declining issuers on Bursa Malayisa, however, outpaced advancers 1.58-to-1, to suggest a broad-based weakness in the lower-liners.
Volume was 1.2 billion shares traded for a transaction value of RM922.79mil.
Of the key Asian indices, only Singapore's Straits Times was above water, rising 0.19% to 3,989.
Japan's equities, which took a dive after the Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on auto imports, remained shaky with the Nikkei droping 2.36% to 36,908.
South Korea, where auto manufacturing is also an economic pillar, saw its benchmark Kospi drop 1.87% to 2,558.
In China, the Shanghai composite index shed 0.71% to 3,349 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.89% to 23,368.
On Bursa Malaysia, the leading laggards were Nestle down RM1.22 to RM73.82, CelcomDigi falling eight sen to RM3.48 and PETRONAS Chemicals shedding 12 sen to RM3.63.
Sapura Energy
, up 0.5 sen to five sen, topped the actives list on the market with 38.33 millon shares.
Main Market debutant HI Mobility was up two sen to RM1.24 with 30.09 million shares done.
