KUALA LUMPUR: The rally on Bursa Malaysia, which saw the FBM KLCI hitting fresh closing highs for two consecutive days, saw investors taking profit in the morning session on Thursday.

Key regional markets were mostly lower ahead of the European Central Bank's policy decision later in the day, with the euro staying pressured by widespread expectations of a rate cut to support fragile euro zone growth, Reuters reported.

At Bursa Malaysia, declines in banking stocks including CIMB, Public Bank and HL:FG weighed on the FBM KLCI.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was down 5.12 points or 0.32% to 1,608.63. Turnover was 539.10 million shares valued at RM493.11mil. There were 250 gainers, 338 losers and 327 stocks unchanged.

Among the key regional markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.26% to 9,080.94; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index 0.29% lower at 19,652.73; Shanghai's Composite Index fell 1.19% to 2,200.76 and Taiwan's Taiex 0.53% to 7,383.48.

Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.11% to 2,952.06 and South Korea's Kospi marginally higher by 0.03% to 1,875.06.

US light crude oil fell 54 cents to US$87.12 but Brent rose two cents to US$99.79. Spot gold was at US$1,616.24. The ringgit weakened against the US dollar to 3.1623.

At Bursa Malaysia, CIMB fell nine sen to RM7.61, dragging the KLCI down 1.57 points. HLFG lost 10 sen to RM12.18 and Public Bank four sen to RM13.86.

Petronas Dagangan lost 10 sen to RM20.90 and Petronas Chemicals four sen to RM6.58.

Crude palm oil futures for third-month delivery fell RM21 to RM3,101. Far East shed 25 sen to RM7.40 with 2,000 shares done, PPB 12 sen lower ro RM15.78 and IOI four sen lower at RM5.22. However, Genting Plantations added 40 sen to RM10.

BAT was the top loser, down 30 sen to RM56.02 with 3,7000 shares done.

FGV call warrants, which were listed on Thursday, rose in active trade. FGV-CC rose three sen to 18 sen with 111 million units done while the shares added two sen to RM5.52. FGV-CK surged 17.2 sen to 40.5 sen.

Tricubes, whose share price tumbled on Wednesday ahead of its suspension, managed to eke out 1.5 sen gains to 4.5 sen.

• 
• 
• 

More News Business Headlines      Adrian Cheng: updating a Hong Kong family empire for a changing China      Wall Street Week Ahead: Correction talk gets old as rally sails along      China April housing inflation quickens to two year high      EU cites Chinese telecoms Huawei and ZTE for trade violations      Yahoo to vote on $1.1 billion Tumblr buy: AllThingsD      Dow, S&P end at records, stocks mark fourth week of gains      CEO: Catcha Media won’t be taken private - for now      Sarawak politically-linked stocks rally      Jala: GST could add up to RM27b to country’s income      Analysts say UMW Holdings’ O&G offering was widely anticipated      Matrix Concepts’ IPO oversubscribed by 11.3 times      Instacom wins RM200m job?      SFSS set to be largest shareholder of Bintulu Port      Northport buys two new quay cranes      Bursa Malaysia closes on Friday      Up close and personal with Rod Young      Well-planned land transport network can boost Greater KL area      Will MRT Line 2 go on as planned?      Big challenges for new Cabinet      Lessons from ‘The Office’      Paradigm shift – fundamental change in thinking      Self-management begins with self-awareness      The China dream      Why your vote counts      Of higher pain threshold      Buying cheap clothes at what cost?      Car prices will be reduced in stages, assures Mustapa      Leon Fuat steels itself for expansion      I-Bhd envisions different shopping experience with CentralPlaza project      Hektar REIT quietly carving a niche market      Big role for Daya Offshore in O&G      Malaysia's economy to grow stronger in Q2      Differing views on ecomomic outlook      Bulls in full control      Tips to consider when picking a business partner      PPB Group chalks up higher Q1 profit and revenue      Allianz M’sia Q1 pre-tax profit rises      IJM’s Rimbayu project well received      How to choose a home loan      Demographics influence properties      Zecon awarded Sime contract      Affin: Ingress offer fair and reasonable      Treasury Pulse      MASkargo business plan gets support      OMG appoints new communications planning director      Marketers should focus more on unconscious mind, says consultant      Pay-TV alters adex picture      Leo Burnett offers free campaign      Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity invites entries for 2013      China ups stakes in Australia power firms as Singapore retreats      World Bank sees surge in poor countries’ investments      Rinehart says Australia treating mining companies like ATMs      Dell downhill, but CEO upbeat      J.C. Penney Q1 loss widens as new chief makes changes      S&P affirms India ‘negative’ outlook      Japan machinery orders jump in March      Snapshots  Go

• PAS gets four Selangor exco posts
• Dr Chua: Tee’s appointment to Johor exco will be discussed by MCA central committee
• Taib wants infrastructure development issues resolved
• More want English as medium of instruction in schools
• Police investigating organisers of Penang thanksgiving ceramah
• Kit Siang slams new IGP for having double standards
• Labourer charged with injuring a man during GE13 campaign period
• Blind student successfully crosses Penang channel
• Karpal tells Tunku Aziz to cease attacks on DAP
• Government to maintain food subsidies
• All eyes on Najib’s new Cabinet
• Hundreds train attention on spreading awareness on AIDS
• Hills in Cameron Highlands ‘raped’ at an alarming rate
• Gunung Perdah ravaged for development and left exposed
• Kedah to freeze logging activities pending review

• Pakistan's Imran blames rival for killing
• Karachi voters back at polls after ballot stuffing
• Philippines waiting for Taiwan anger to cool
• Russia retrieves mice, newts from space
• 29 killed in South Sudan cattle raid
• Saudi woman creates history by scaling Everest
• Lotto fever strikes US as jackpot swells (Updated)
• Pakistani politician gunned down in Karachi
• Dozens hurt in US road accident, say reports

• Golf: Griffin wins fog-bound SK Telecom Open
• Swimming: Phelps throws cold water on comeback report
• Golf: Choi edges sizzling Nordqvist for LPGA lead
• The missing link
• Khairy to look into matters after review
• Kevin smashes 400m freestyle national record to take gold
• Rizzua set to be the next big thing to come from Sarawak
• Shahidatun is leaps and bounds ahead of her rivals
• James claims victory over rivals in Shanghai
• Chong Wei continues to stay focused despite all the changes
• Apacs extend Chun Seang’s contract for another year
• Denmark’s Hoyer is new president of the BWF
• Indonesian coach: Individual sponsorship will revive our shuttlers’ fortunes
• Kumar: Pakistani players are livewire of KLHC
• Training for young goalkeepers

• Please wait.

• Tips to consider when picking a business partner
• China ups stakes in Australia power firms as Singapore retreats
• The China dream
• Well-planned land transport network can boost Greater KL area
• Will MRT Line 2 go on as planned?
• Marketers should focus more on unconscious mind, says consultant
• Self-management begins with self-awareness
• Paradigm shift – fundamental change in thinking
• Car prices will be reduced in stages, assures Mustapa
• How to choose a home loan

Copyright © 1995-2013 Star Publications (M) Bhd (Co No 10894-D) - Investor Relations