KUALA LUMPUR (April 3): The FBM KLCI dipped 0.19% at the midday break today, as market breadth remained negative in line with the slip at most regional markets.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 3.53 points to 1,854.82.

Losers led gainers by 452 to 122, while 527 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 896.27 million shares valued at RM688.58 million.

The top losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Co Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Tasek Corp Bhd and Magni-Tech Industries Bhd.

The actives included PUC Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Sapura Energy Bhd, Sino Hua-An International Bhd, NWP Holdings Bhd, HB Global Ltd and AirAsia X Bhd.

The gainers included Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Padini Holdings Bhd and Bursa Malaysia Bhd.

Asian shares slipped on Tuesday amid escalating trade tensions and worries over the fading outlook for global tech giants, but investors held their nerves to focus instead on prospects for stronger world growth, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.4% on Tuesday, compared with losses of more than 2% on each of the three Wall Street indices overnight, it said.

CIMB Retail Research said the FBM KLCI index yesterday fell 5.1 points or 0.3% on profit taking, in line with regional markets as the China-US trade spat uncertainties continued to act as a drag on market sentiment.

It said the market breadth was weak as investors speculated on the timing of Malaysia's GE14.

"Today, the local market may remain under pressure in response to the overnight slide in both Wall Street and the crude oil prices. Life in the equity markets is getting harder.

"Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Resistance: 1,880 & 1,896 Supports: 1,850 & 1,839," it said.