Bursa Malaysia continued trading this week with a weak opening for the 4th consecutive day as anxious sentiment returned but there was possible bargain-hunting activity in the market.
At 9am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was down 5.38 points at 1,481.99 from Monday's close of 1,487.37.
The index opened 2.45 points lower at 1,484.92.
In the broader market, losers at 277 outnumbered gainers at 103, while 217 counters were unchanged, 1,721 untraded and 7 suspended.
Total revenue at 179.06 million units worth RM88.93 million.
Rakuten Trade Vice President Thong Pak Leng commented, buying support is expected to appear in today's trading session and the main index may hover in the 1,480-1,500 range.
He explained that the current market is obscured by too much negative sentiment ahead of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman's speech in confirming the percentage increase in interest rates to curb inflation.
Heavyweight stocks saw Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) remain at RM8.87 and Public Bank Bhd flat at RM4.59 while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd fell 4 sen to RM8.66 and IHH Healthcare Bhd fell 2 sen to RM6.33.
Active stocks saw Sapura Energy Bhd add 1 sen to 5 sen, Cnergenz Bhd gained 2.5 sen to 91 sen, Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX) lost 0.5 sen to 84 sen and AHB Holdings Bhd remained at 14.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas index decreased by 43.56 points at 10,512.79, the FBMT 100 index decreased by 41.49 points at 10,261.91, the FBM Emas Shariah index decreased by 60.60 points at 10,607.07, the FBM 70 lost 67.87 points at 12,565.97 and the FBM ACE plunged 12.142 points at 4.84.
In terms of sectors, the Financial Services index decreased by 26.86 points at 16,588.27, the Plantation index decreased by 53.90 points at 7,117.73, the Energy index weakened by 1.78 points at 663.62 and the Products and Services index fell by 1.25 points at 180.42.
