The situation in Asia was also not helped by the possibility of North Korea conducting more nuclear test. Yesterday, the country successfully carried out underground nuclear tests, resulting in the South Korean Kospi trading in negative territory.

At midday on May 26, Kospi fell 0.94% to 1,387.78, Taiwan's TAIEX Index lost 0.60% to 6,693.98, Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.52% to 9,298.50, the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.15% to 2,264.09 and the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.12% to 2,606.91.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, meanwhile added 0.02% to 17,124.39.

At Bursa Malaysia, the KLCI added 0.09% or 0.95 of a point to 1,054.09 at midday. Turnover was 927.41 million shares valued at RM795.47 million. Losers edged gainers by 308 to 243, while 212 counters traded unchanged.

Fima Corporation was the top gainer at midday and added 33 sen to RM2.55; Nestle rose 25 sen to RM30, LPI Capital was up 20 sen RM10.30 while Amway, F&N and Maybank gained 15 sen each to RM7.40, RM9.10 and RM5.30.

Milux Corporation gained 13 sen to RM1.19; CN Asia Corp, Allianz and Sunway City added 12 sen each to 25 sen, RM4 and RM2.68, respectively.

Hong Leong Industries was among the top losers today and fell 40 sen to RM3.60; Batu Kawan fell 15 sen to RM8.75, Glenealy and Sitt Tatt down 12 sen each to RM3.66 and 53 sen.

Meanwhile, Kulim, Shell, KLK and Tenaga lost 10 sen each to RM6.20, RM10.50, RM11.90 and RM7.65, respectively.

Mulpha shares and warrants were the most actively traded counters today; Mulpha-WA added one sen to 14 sen with 37.85 million traded while Mulpha added one sen to 54.5 sen with 36.2 million shares traded.

Other actively traded stocks included Scomi, KNM, Ramunia, Saag, MRCB and Resorts.

Crude oil fell 76 cents per barrel to US$60.91 in electronic trading as at 1.10pm today, while crude palm oil futures declined RM7 per tonne to RM2,438.