KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): The FBM KLCI remained in negative zone at mid-morning today weighed by losses at key blue chips, while newly listed Malakoff Corporation Bhd was the most actively traded stock.

At 10.11am, the FBM KLCI was down 5.13 points to 1,802.42.

The top losers included Genting Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, TAHPS Group Bhd, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Tasek Corporation Bhd, LTKM Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Genting Malaysia Bhd and My E.G. Services Bhd.

Malakoff was the most actively traded stock with 124.58 million shares done. The stock was up one sen to RM1.81.

The other actives included Perdana Petroleum Bhd, Kanger International Bhd, Sanichi Technology Bhd, Frontken Corpoiration Bhd and Tanco Bhd.

The gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd, Apollo Holdings Bhd, Singature International Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd.

Asian shares gained in early trading on Friday, on track for a weekly rise, after Wall Street cheered a cool reading for producer price inflation that chilled expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.3% higher, poised to gain about 1% for the week. Japan's Nikkei stock index was up 0.5%, set for a 1.5% weekly rise, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said that unless the index can swiftly stage a quick and decisive breakout above immediate key resistance near 200-d SMA of 1,815, there was still downside pressure for Bursa Malaysia in the short term.