KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI struggled to make more headway in morning trade, ending the session on a slightly negative note as traders took profit from the previous day's surge.
As at 12.30pm, the market's benchmark index was down 0.98 points to 1,707.22, erasing earlier gains that had taken the index to a fresh multi-year high of 1,711.66 points.
Most bank shares remained on a rally, indicating the continued buying interest in the sector despite the record levels achieved previously.
The Bursa Malaysia Financial Services index reached a new historical high of 20,476 after tacking on a third of a percent to yesterday's record close.
RHB, Public Bank and Hong Leong Bank rose on sustained buying interest while CIMB retreated slightly. Maybank was unchanged at the midday break.
Other sectors that saw ongoing buying interest included property and utilities.
While the blue chips were supported by the return of offshore investment funds, the small caps benefited from some spillover from the blue-chip rally. Bursa Malaysia recorded 543 gainers compared with 426 decliners, reflecting the overall positive mood on the Exchange, despite the onset of profit-taking in select heavyweights.
Trading volume was 1.75 billion shares valued at RM1.42bil.
In regional markets, stock markets were led higher by Japan as a potential snap election in February raised the prospect of further fiscal stimulus and weakened an already frail yen.The Nikkei rose 1.43% to a fresh record of 54,313.
Across the Korea Strait, the Kospi gained 0.31% to 4,707.
In China, the Shanghai Composite index gained 0.68% to 4,166 and the CSI300 rose 0.33% to 4,776. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.49% to 26,978.
