KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 8): The FBM KLCI dipped 6.41 points or 0.38% to close at 1,672.76 today, led by Hartalega Holdings Bhd and Top Glove Corp Bhd's share price decline partly due to an appreciating ringgit against the US dollar.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong said the decline in both rubber glove manufacturers' shares was also due to unresolved issues concerning foreign workers.

“Weakness in the benchmark index (KLCI) was led by Hartalega and Top Glove," Leong said. According to him, Hartalega and Top Glove accounted for a combined 4.2 point decline of the KLCI's 6.41 point drop.

Hartalega shares closed down 60 sen or 10.44% at RM5.15 to become the largest decliner in percentage terms among the KLCI's 30 stocks. Top Glove was the second largest decliner after the stock fell 27 sen or 5.09% to RM5.03.

In currency markets, the ringgit was traded at 4.1182 against the US dollar at 5:34pm today. Over the last one year, the ringgit has strengthened to current levels after depreciating to its weakest point at 4.2020.

Across Bursa Malaysia today, 2.31 billion shares were traded for RM2.03 billion. The most-actively traded stocks included newly-listed Gagasan Nadi Cergas Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd and Berjaya Corp Bhd.
 
Leading gainers included Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd and Genting Bhd.