KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 5): The FBM KLCI remained in the negative zone at the midday break today, and fell 0.43% in line with the decline at regional markets.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI lost 7.64 points to 1,782.47.

Losers led gainers by 581 to 175, while 1,118 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.2 billion shares valued at RM843.99 million.

The losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Apex Equity Holdings Bhd, MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Tong Herr Resources Bhd and Axiata Group Bhd.

The actives included Sapura Energy Bhd, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd, My EG Services Bhd, Sanbumi Holdings Bhd, Key ASIC Bhd, Berjaya Corp Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd and Orion IXL Bhd.

The gainers included United Plantations Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Tasek Corp Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd.

Asian shares were fragile on Friday after benchmark US Treasury yields surged to a seven-year high and strong economic data fanned concerns about inflation and the risk of faster-than-expected interest rate rises, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.3%, while Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.5% and Australian benchmark was up just 0.1%, it said.

Affin Hwang Capital Research said the FBM KLCI Index moved lower (down 6.19 points) yesterday.

"Lack of fresh catalysts may be the reason for the slow progress in our index. Anticipate to open softer today in tandem with global markets.

"The FBM KLCI Index may experience normal consolidation in the near term," it said