KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 2): The FBM KLCI remained in negative territory at the midday break on Thursday as regional markets retreated.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 2.71 points to 1,842.61.

Market breadth was negative with 560 losers and 173 gainers, while 263 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 978.63 million shares valued at RM679.14 million.

The top losers included BAT, Dutch Lady, Sarawak Oil Palms, Kluang, Carlsberg, F&N, Lysaght, Cahya Mata Sarawak, MPI, Berjaya Auto and CIMB.

MUI Industries was the most actively traded counter with 52.01 million shares done. The stock was flat at 28.5 sen.

The other actives included Sanichi, Flonic, Sumatec, Datasonic,PDZ, Hubline and Berjaya Corp.

The top gainers included United Plantations, ML Global, Tasek, Ajinomoto, PPB, Tenaga, Takaful and Dialog.

Regionally, Asian stocks fell on Thursday as weak global manufacturing activity and an Ebola health scare in the United States spooked world markets, sending investors scurrying to the safety of U.S. bonds, the Japanese yen and gold, according to Reuters.

Investors warmed to the yen after a slew of surveys showed German factory activity shrank for the first time in 15 months, China's manufacturing sector barely grew, while the United States slowed more than expected, it said.

Lee Cheng Hooi, Maybank IB head of retail research and chief chartist, in a note to clients Thursday said the FBM KLCI inched down by 0.99 points to 1,845.32 yesterday, while the FBMEMAS and FBMT100 also closed lower by 19.75 points and 17.79 points, respectively.

“We expect weaker buying interest at the supports of 1,830 to 1,843, whilst heavy liquidation would be at the resistances of 1,845 and 1,870,” he said.