KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): The FBM KLCI fell 0.55% at the midday break today, tracking the slump at most global markets underpinned by the US President Donald Trump's latest debacle on allegations he attempted to influence a federal probe.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI lost 9.64 points to 1,766.01. The index had earlier fallen to its intra-morning low of 1,762.04.

Losers outpaced gainers by 629 to 218, while 365 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.82 billion shares valued at RM1.24 billion. 

The top losers included Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd, DanaInfra Nasional Bhd, Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Bhd, Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Axiata Group Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd and Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd.

The actives included DRB-Hicom Bhd, Priceworth International Bhd, MRCB, Dagang NeXchange Bhd, Anzo Holdings Bhd, UEM Sunrise Bhd, Land & General Bhd, JAG Bhd and Luster Industries Bhd.

The gainers included Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Mudajaya Group Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Kerjaya Prospek Group Bhd and Amtel Holdings Bhd. 

Asian stocks fell on Thursday and the US dollar was stuck near six-month lows against a basket of currencies as uncertainty mounted over Trump's future following reports that he tried to interfere with a federal investigation, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.4%, it said. 

Kenanga IB Research said the FBM KLCI is caught in the red for the second consecutive day this week, as profit-taking activities continued to plague the local bourse. 

It said at the close, the FBM KLCI slipped 2.5 points or 0.14% to close lower at 1,775.65. 

The research house said a second consecutive black candlestick formed is laying a hand on the bearish-bias outlook ahead. 

"Indicator-wise, the retracement of daily RSI and Stochastic from their respective overbought levels [is] suggesting that selling pressure is piling up. 

"From here, we reiterate our view that the FBM KLCI will continue on its downside-bias trade this week within 1,760-1,784. 

"Key overhead resistance are still capped at 1,784 (R1)/1,800 (R2), while supports are limited at 1,760 (S1)/1,743 (S2)," it said.