At midday, the FBM KLCI fell 4.35 points or 0.36% to 1,204. Turnover was 318.06 million units valued at RM370.76 million. There were 119 gainers, 459 losers and 155 stocks unchanged. Year-to-date, the FBM KLCI is up 37.41%, though at a slower pace compared with the other markets.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 2.46% to 9,733.09, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 2.32% lower at 20,469.29, Singapore's Straits Times Index was 1.47% lower at 2,618.38, South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.7% to 1,644.63 and Taiwan's Taiex retreated 1.4% to 7,439.48.

Light crude oil fell 62 US cents to US$70.20 while crude palm oil futures slipped RM17 to RM2,098.

Jetson-LA was the top loser, down 18 sen to RM1.40, Jetson was 14 sen down RM1.68 while Jetson-WA dropped 10.5 sen to 80.5 sen.

Hai-O fell 14 sen to RM6.20, Proton 12 sen to RM3.92. Plantations including Genting Plantation and KL Kepong fell 10 sen each to RM5.90 and RM13.72.

Green Packet-WA was the most active with 27.2 million units done, surging 19.5 sen to 20 sen. IJM-WR added 36 sen to 61 sen.

DiGi rose 12 sen to RM21.72, United Plantations and Jaya Tiasa were up eight sen each to RM13.28 and RM2.50.