KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 17): The FBM KLCI dipped 0.19% at mid-morning today in line with the pullback at most regional markets.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI was down 3.54 points to 1,822.49.

Losers led gainers by 380 to 194, while 321 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.47 billion shares valued at RM354.98 million.

The top losers included Padini Holdings Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Unisem (M) Bhd, Caely Holdings Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

The actives included Sumatec Resources Bhd, Xinghe Holdings Bhd, NetX Holdings Bhd, Perisai Petroleum Bhd, Globaltec Formation Bhd, PUC Bhd, UMW Oil & Gas Corp Bhd and Sapura Energy Bhd.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Tong Herr Resources Bhd, Lysaght Galvanized Steel Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Malaysia Pacific Industries Bhd and Apex Healthcare Bhd.

Asian stocks stepped back from a record high on Wednesday as the region's resource shares were dented by falling oil and commodity prices while digital currencies tumbled on worries about tighter regulations, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.1 percent from its record high as resource shares declined after oil and other commodities succumbed to profit-taking after recent gains, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a traders’ brief said that in the near term, Dow’s uptrend could sustain on the back of positive tax reform and bullish outlook of a synchronised growth in global economy coupled with stellar corporate earnings growth.

“However, near term weakness is spotted following the sharp reversal overnight after hitting above our envisaged 26,000-26,300 resistances. Primary uptrend remains intact unless key supports near 25,000-25,300 is violated.

“Given the firm ringgit and crude oil prices, healthy macro developments and the resumption of foreign buying supports, sentiment on the local bourse could still stay positive, despite interim consolidations, as KLCI is expected to play catch-up with its regional peers due to its laggard status.

“Overall, uptrend remains intact to retest 1830-1840 territory unless 1810-1818 supports are broken decisively,” it said.