Trading volume was 405.14 million shares valued at RM538.37 million. There were 245 gainers and 259 losers, while 241 counters traded unchanged.

Regional markets were mixed, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gaining 0.39% to 21,323.54, Japan's Nikkei 225 adding 0.14% to 9,813.50, Taiwan's TAIEX Index declining 0.46% to 7,573.56, South Korea's Kospi falling 0.16% to 1,595.39 and the Singapore Straits Times Index losing 0.08% to 2,632.58.

Crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery fell RM11 to RM2,061 per tonne at midday, while crude oil rose 58 cents to US$70.15 per barrel.

At the Bursa Malaysia, CIMB was the top gainer at midday and jumped 36 sen to RM11.96. KPJ rose 23 sen to RM4.80, Top Glove up 14 sen to RM8.11 and Kossan gained 11 sen to RM4.36.

The other gainers included Hong Leong Bank that added 4 sen to RM6.60, RHB Capital up 5 sen to RM5.13, EON Capital rose 13 sen to RM5.72, Tanjong up 8 sen to RM15.70 and Astro up 2 sen to RM3.39.

Among the major losers were Genting that fell 7 sen to RM7.23. Maybank, IOI Corp, Sime Darby and Tenaga fell 2 sen each to RM6.71, RM5.22, RM8.53 and RM8.19, respectively.

KNM Group was the most actively traded counter with 35.7 million shares done. The stock fell half a sen to 79.5 sen. Other actively traded stocks included Time, Saag, Hubline, Green Packet, Dialog, Scomi and MRCB.