KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5): The FBM KLCI pared some of its losses at mid-morning today but continued to stay pressured and remain below the 1,720-point level.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI was down 1.43 points to 1.711.70. The index had earlier fallen to a low of 1,708.48.

Losers led gainers by 316 to 181, while 279 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 386.74 million shares valued at RM239.43 million.

The top losers included Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd, United U-Li Corp Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd and Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd.

The actives included Trive Property Group Bhd, Green Packet Bhd, Vivocom Intl Holdings Bhd, Hubline Bhd and MMAG Holdings Bhd.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Pharmaniaga Holdings Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Hong  Leong Financial Group Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd and Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd.

Asian shares were subdued on Tuesday as investors' rotation out of technology shares took the toll on some of the region's tech heavyweights although hopes of a major tax cut in the United States underpinned risk sentiment, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan were capped by the fall in the region's technology shares, with Samsung Electronics losing 1.5 percent, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research in a traders’ brief said despite the bullish move on the Dow, sentiments on Wall Street may be volatile with the rebalancing of the funds into sectors that may benefit from the tax overhaul program.

“The Dow's support will be located around 23,800-24,000.

“At the moment, we opine that market may stablise near the 1,700-1,710 levels as investors reassess companies’ 3Q17 earnings while digesting the impact of the rebalancing of the key index after the inclusion of Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd and Nestle (M) Bhd into FBM KLCI.

“Also, we opine that the FBM KLCI could be due for a technical rebound on the back of the window dressing period,” it said.