KUALA LUMPUR: DiGi, Maybank and Tenaga weighed on blue chips in the early session on March 30, in line with the cautious Asian markets.

However, Proton rose after The Edge Weekly reported that it was close to finalizing a technology tie-up with another foreign car maker.

At 10am, the KL Composite Index had fallen 5.22 points to 880.21. Turnover was 47.9 million shares valued at RM55.75 million. There were 46 gainers, 131 losers and 99 stocks unchanged.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index opened 1.8% lower at 13,867.42, Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 1.56% to 1,718.39, Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 1.76% to 8,475.17.

Light crude oil fell 97 cents to US$51.41 while the ringgit was quoted at RM3.6347 to the US dollar.

HwangDBS Vickers Research said it remained cautious for potential surprises in the week(s) ahead, possibly coming from the Group of 20 nations (G-20) summit on April 2.

It expected implications from probable sweeping changes to the rules and regulations in a bid to remake the world’s financial order as well as foreign exchange affair as the US dollar is losing its shine as the world’s dominant reserve currency.

The research house said the big US automakers might see a new timeline on actions required to be taken for them to receive additional government cash supports.

“Back home, a preliminary update on the Malaysian economic performance is available when the external trade report for February is out on April 3,” it said.

At Bursa, MISC retreated 15 sen to RM8.30 with 300 shares done. DiGi, LPI, Tanjong and KL Kepong fell 10 sen each to RM21.30, RM8.80, RM14.20 and RM10.70.

Maybank fell eight sen to RM4.26, Asiatic and Parkson six sen each to RM4.30 and RM3.84.

Sealink was the most active with 4.1 million shares done, easing one sen to 37.5 sen.

KFCH was the top gainer, rising 20 sen to RM7.19, OSKVI advanced 13 sen to 69 sen, Ekovest 13 sen to RM1.13. Proton added three sen to RM1.58.