KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia opened on a lower note today on lackluster trading on a mixed regional performance. 

At opening, the FBM KLCI was down 0.56 points to 1,452.54 from Tuesday's close of 1,453.10.

As at 9.33am, the index was down 0.14 per cent to 1,451.07 points.

On the broader market, gainers led losers 161 to 149, while 284 counters were unchanged, 1,634 untraded and 22 suspended.

Turnover amounted to 278.18 million units worth RM71.76 million.

Rakuten Trade equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said some rumblings on the political scene further set aside interests on the local bourse. 

"Notwithstanding this, we believe the time is right to nibble on some banking and construction stocks as we noticed more jobs are in the pipeline, thus we expect the index to trend within the 1,450-1,460 range today," he told the Business Times today.

On Bursa Malaysia, heavyweights Sime Darby Plantation Bhd was down four sen to RM4.33, IHH Healthcare Bhd dipped one sen to RM5.98, and Hong Leong Bank Bhd was flat at RM18.66.

Public Bank Bhd eased 2.0 sen to RM4.26, Maxis Bhd stayed flat at RM3.81 and Tenaga slid 1.0 sen to RM9.97. 

Among actives, MAG Holdings Bhd was up 4.5 sen to 17 sen, Metronic Global Bhd was flat at two sen and Hong Seng Consolidated was unchanged at three sen.