KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): Bursa Malaysia ended the morning trading session lower, dragged down by selling in selected heavyweights amidst weak market sentiment.

At lunch break, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) shed 4.44 points to 1,591.26 from Thursday’s close of 1,595.7.

The barometer index, which opened 0.88 of-a-point firmer at 1,596.58, moved between 1,590.9 and 1,596.62 throughout the session.

On the broader market, losers trumped gainers 429 versus 262, while 401 counters were unchanged, 1,160 untraded and 27 others suspended.

Total turnover stood at 1.35 billion units worth RM702.18 million.

In a note, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd said it expects the index to hover within the 1,590-1,600 range due to the lack of market catalysts.

“As the United States market will be closed today (April 15) for Good Friday, we reckon it will be another listless day for the regional markets.

“Meanwhile, concerns over the crude oil deficit remain as Brent crude pushed above US$110 to end at almost US$112 per barrel,” it said.

Back home, market heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd slid three sen to RM8.80, IHH Healthcare Bhd eased eight sen to RM6.44, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd dropped five sen to RM6.55, Public Bank Bhd was flat at RM4.67, while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd added six sen to RM10.32.

Of the actives, Datasonic Group Bhd increased 3.5 sen to 53 sen, MNC Wireless Bhd gained one sen to 4.5 sen, Key Alliance Group Bhd was flat at one sen, while Tanco Holdings Bhd fell eight sen to 35.5 sen, and China Ouhua Winery Holdings Ltd gave up one sen to seven sen.

On the index board, FBMT 100 Index declined 28.64 points to 11,072.93, FBM Emas Index was 29.51 points easier at 11,425.18, FBM Emas Shariah Index reduced 33.52 points to 12,061.87, FBM 70 inched down 26.43 points to 13,779.24, and FBM ACE shrank 46.5 points to 5,799.82.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.18 of-a-point to 214.75, the Financial Services Index slipped 32.06 points to 16,647.52, and the Plantation Index dipped 88.73 points to 8,376.18.