At 9am the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was down 4.97 points at 1,538.05 from Monday's close of 1,543.02.
The index opened 1.33 points lower at 1,544.35.
The bourse opened red, extending profit-taking activity on most financial services and plantation-led indices as market sentiment recovered driven by the easing of Covid restrictions in China emerged.
On the broader market, investors saw losers at 208 outpacing gainers at 184, while 235 counters were unchanged, 1,652 untraded and 42 suspended.
Total turnover at 210.74 million units worth RM117.82 million.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd notes that the absence of new catalysts in new purchases will see the index hover in the range of 1,540 and 1,550.
Meanwhile, the ringgit was seen rising against the US dollar at 4.36 from a high of 4.40 on May 18 as crude oil prices continued to soar.
Heavyweights saw Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd lose 2 sen at RM8.96 and RM9.98, Public Bank Bhd fell 1 sen at RM4.58 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) declined 6 sen at RM9. 19 while IHH Healthcare Bhd remained at RM6.55.
Active stocks saw Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX) and Green Packet Bhd remain at 99 sen and 8 sen, Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd was down 1 sen at 10 sen and Sapura Energy Bhd was down 0.5 sen at 8 sen while Priceworth International Bhd added 1.5 sen at 15.5 sen.
On the index board, FBM ACE declined 23.72 points at 5,172.45, FBM Emas Shariah index declined 27.59 points at 11,357.68, FBM Emas index declined 22.86 points at 10,968.31 and FBMT 100 index plunged 22.65 points at 10,668.05 while FBM 70 rose 20.11 points at 13,134.21.
In terms of sectors, the Products and Services Industry index declined 0.82 points at 198.93, the Plantation index declined 54.17 points at 7,888.60 and the Financial Services index declined 32.50 points at 16,569.10.
