The FBM KLCI remained lower at midday on Tuesday as investors liquidated their positions ahead of the Hari Raya holiday.
The local bourse was down 3.05 points (0.20%) to 1,556.93 from Monday's close of 1,559.98.
The benchmark index opened 0.07 points lower at 1,559.91 and it moved around 1,555.71 and 1,565.57 throughout the morning trading session.
In the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers by 470 to 398. Meanwhile, 485 counters were unchanged, 990 were untraded and nine others were suspended.
The total turnover was 2.08 billion units worth RM1.09 billion.
According to stock firm Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, trading activity is expected to be sluggish this week given the shortened trading week and mixed sentiment on Wall Streets.
For now, investors will focus on the utility sector because investment in data centers can drive electricity demand in the future.
Meanwhile, local heavyweight Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) lost four sen to RM9.65 per share, Public Bank Bhd lost one sen to RM4.18, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd lost seven sen to RM6.57, Tenaga Nasional Bhd lost 10 sen to RM11.70 and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd rose two sen to RM6.81.
Among active stocks, TWL Holdings Bhd at three sen and Velesto Energy Bhd at 27.5 sen both unchanged, S P Bhd Setia dropped five sen to RM1.40, while YTL Power International Bhd added three sen to RM4.05 and Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd put one sen to 68.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index fell 18.30 points to 11,715.60, and the FBMT 100 Index fell 18.20 points to 11,352.50. The FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 11.70 points to 11,882.80, and the FBM 70 Index fell 9.87 points to 16,358.40, while the FBM ACE Index rose 28.97 points to 5,009.81.
In terms of sectors, the Industrial Products and Services Index decreased by 0.01 points to 184.40, the Financial Services Index decreased by 56.20 points to 17,248.70, the Plantation Index decreased by 0.53 points to 7,480.52 and the Energy Index increased by 1.77 points to 9637 points to 9637.
The stock exchange and its subsidiaries will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday, subject to official announcement by the Keeper of the King's Great Seal.
