Bursa ends morning session weaker amid continuous selling, lack of market catalysts

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): Bursa Malaysia extended its downtrend to close the morning trading session on a weak note amid continuous selling of index-linked counters and a lack of market catalysts to lift risk appetite, dealers said. At 12.30pm on Tuesday (Jan 4), the benchmark FBM KLCI had erased 10.82 points to 1,538.23 from Monday's close at 1,549.05. The index, which opened 1.87 points firmer at 1,550.92, moved between 1,536.64 and 1,551.33 throughout the morning session. Conversely, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) added one sen to RM8.77. Sector-wise, the Plantation Index contracted 53.84 points to 6,606.54, the Financial Services Index gave up 14.78 points for 15,599.29, and the Industrial Products and Services Index slipped 0.48 of a point to 200.91.