KUALA LUMPUR • The benchmark index on Bursa Malaysia turned mixed at mid-morning, driven by emerging profit-taking in selected utilities and plantation counters, amid weaker sentiment in the regional markets, dealers said.

At 1am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) earned 0.75 of-a-point to 1,519.91 from 1,518.16 at yesterday’s close.

On the broader market, losers led gainers 409 to 222, while 351 counters were unchanged, 1,316 untraded and six others suspended.

Turnover stood at 946.92 million units valued at RM564.56 million.

In a note today, ActiveTrades trader Anderson Alves said Asian equities were defensive today, with stocks pressured by higher US yields.

“The US dollar is the haven of choice in the current macro environment, especially with The People’s Bank of China easing in a surprise fashion after slow growth fears. With the current thin liquidity conditions, any moves could create a strong correlation between the yield and stocks complex in Asia.

“Investors will be keeping a close eye on US Federal Reserve (Fed) speakers ahead of next week’s Jackson Hole symposium. The release of July’s Federal Open Market Committee minutes prompted a small pullback on global risk assets as reports noted that Fed officials saw a slower pace of hikes at some point,” he said.

Malayan Banking Bhd advanced two sen to RM8.99, Public Bank Bhd added one sen to RM4.66, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd went up four sen to RM8.76, while IHH Healthcare Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd gained three sen each to RM6.53 and RM5.48 respectively.

Of the actives, debutant Agmo Holdings Bhd jumped 48.5 sen to 74.5 sen, Cnergenz Bhd added 1.5 sen to 87.5 sen, Metronic Global Bhd earned half-a-sen to 5.5 sen, while Pegasus Heights Bhd eased half sen to one sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index was 0.4 of-a-point better at 10,744.24, the FBM T100 Index gained 2.44 points to 10,494.59, the FBM Emas Shariah Index decreased 20.63 points to 10,879.61, while the FBM 70 shed 8.25 points to 12,758.30 and the FBM ACE declined 20.73 points to 4,928.53.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index improved 71.14 points to 16,859.92, the Plantation Index declined 36.58 points to 7,258.14, the Industrial Products and Services Index eased 0.52 of-a-point to 183.05 and the Energy Index advanced 2.83 points to 662.43. — Bernama / pic by TMR