KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): The benchmark FBM KLCI pared losses at midday on Tuesday, but weaker sentiment still persisted in the overall market, due to profit-taking activities. 

At lunch break, the index had fallen 1.09 points to 1,463.58, from Monday's close at 1,464.67.  

The market bellwether opened 0.62 of a point easier at 1,464.05, and moved between 1,458.66 and 1,465.55 throughout the morning session. 

In the broader market, decliners outpaced gainers 473 to 308, while 423 counters were unchanged, 1,144 untraded, and seven others suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.69 billion units worth RM965.32 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said although Wall Street ended slightly higher, profit-taking activities emerged, and a rally across the board may take a breather.

"However, as we are heading into the reporting season month, we are still bullish on the oil and gas sector, fuelled by a positive environment in the oil market. Besides, we favour the construction, property, building material, utilities, and consumer sectors,” it said in a note on Tuesday. 

Among the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) increased four sen to RM9.15, IHH Healthcare Bhd gained three sen to RM6.04, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd at RM4.89 and MISC Bhd at RM7.31 had added one sen each, Public Bank Bhd at RM4.25 and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd at RM5.81 were both flat, while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd at RM7.30 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd at RM9.96 had both shed four sen.

Of the actives, EA Technique (M) Bhd advanced five sen to 39 sen, Ranhill Utilities Bhd went up two sen to 90 sen, PDZ Holdings Bhd rose half a sen to six sen, Edaran Bhd surged 28 sen to 79.5 sen, and Leform Bhd slid half a sen to 24.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index gave up 11.15 points to 10,798.28, the FBMT 100 Index dipped 10.49 points to 10,463.14, the FBM Emas Shariah Index trimmed 21.39 points to 10,991.5, the FBM 70 Index slid 26.01 points to 14,214.8, and the FBM ACE Index eased 1.41 points to 5,121.46.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched down 0.32 of a point to 172.85, the Plantation Index erased 21.33 points to 6,969.32, and the Energy Index was 4.30 points weaker at 872.17, but the Financial Services Index rose 6.04 points to 16,461.86.