KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): The main index at Bursa Malaysia pared some of its loss, but remained in the negative zone as key index-linked stocks dragged.

At 10.10am, the FBM KLCI was down 3.58 points to 1,515.85. The index had earlier slipped to a low of 1,512.74.

Gainers led losers by 423 to 272, while 349 counters traded unchanged. Trading volume was 1.76 billion shares valued at RM671.19 million.

The top losers included Petronas Gas Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, G3 Global Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd and Westports Holdings Bhd.  

The actively traded stocks included Advance Synergy Bhd, MUI Industries Bhd, Kanger International Bhd, Borneo Oil Bhd and Bumi Armada Bhd.

The gainers included Heineken Malaysia Bhd, BLD Plantation Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd and PPB Group Bhd.

Bloomberg said US equity futures climbed after the White House appeared to shift tack and signalled the Trump administration is again leaning towards a large-scale stimulus bill. Crude oil held on to gains ahead of a storm.

S&P 500 contracts were about 0.5% higher following news that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Nancy Pelosi that President Donald Trump wants agreement on a comprehensive aid package. Shares in Japan and Australia were flat. All eyes will be on the reopening of Chinese markets Friday after a week-long holiday, it said.