KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): The FBM KLCI fell 0.33% at mid-morning today as the broader market breadth remained negative.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI fell 5.71 points to 1,712.15.

Losers led gainers by 377 to 191, while 303 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 447.95 million shares valued at RM381.95 million.

The top losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Danainfra Nasional Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Tahps Group Bhd and Maxis Bhd.

The actives included Pintaras Jaya Bhd, Dagang NeXchange Bhd, MMAG Holdings Bhd, Hubline Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd and  Xinghe Holdings Bhd.

The gainers included Hengyuan, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, MISC Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia Bhd.

The U.S. dollar bounced to a two-week top on Monday as traders celebrated the passage of a Senate tax bill over the weekend, while stronger U.S. stock futures pointed to a merry start for Asian shares, according to Reuters.

The greenback jumped 0.7 percent in early Asian trade to as far as 112.98 yen, the highest since Nov. 17. It climbed 0.5 percent last week, a welcome reprieve to bulls after three straight sessions of losses, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a traders’ brief said despite short term volatility triggered by Flynn’s probe, Dow mid to long term outlook remain bright amid positive expectations of Trump’s tax overhaul plans, positive economy & corporate earnings outlook and supportive monetary policies coupled with expectations of more business-friendly policies.

It said key supports are 23,000 while upside targets retain at 24,300-24,800.

“As 3Q17 reporting season was over (generally within market expectations), the FBM KLCI could inch up further in the seasonally stronger Dec month amid year-end window dressings (average of 1.9% gains in the last 10 years with a 90% successful hit rates), supported by ringgit appreciation bias and oil price strength.

“Nevertheless, overall sentiment will remain edgy, underpinned largely by GE14 uncertainty and 2018 earnings prospects coupled with fears of vicious economic cycle as a result of the current episode of property imbalances.

“Weekly supports are 1700-1706 while resistances fall on 1728-1735 zones,” it said.