KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia remained in the red at midday as profit taking activities emerged among selected heavyweights.

At 12.30pm, FTSE Bursa Malaysia was down 0.96 per cent or 14.86 points to 1,539.70 versus Tuesday's close of 1,554.56.

The key index which opened 11.05 points weaker at 1,543.51 dropped as much as 1.13 per cent or 17.58 points to 1,536.98 in the morning trading session.

The broader market saw decliners led gainers 468 to 406 while 477 counters remained unchanged.

On the index board, FBM100 tumbled 0.65 per cent to 11,108.57, FBM Emas dipped 0.6 per cent to 11,442.45 and FBM Ace shed 1.05 per cent to 4,672.34.

Sector wise, financial services dropped 260.10 points to 17,182.92, plantation sector slid 34.67 points to 7,321.93 and telco declined 4.25 points to 601.8.

Among the active stocks were Malayan United Industries Bhd which rose 8.33 per cent or half  a sen to 6.5 sen and Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd gained 33.33 per cent or half a sen to two sen.

On the flipside, Pan Malaysia Holdings Bhd lost 6.67 per cent or 1.5 sen to 21 sen.