KUALA LUMPUR: Key Asian markets fell at the midday break on April 27 as investors worried about the impact of the swine flu which has killed 103 people in Mexico while investors also took profit from the recent run-up in equities.

Commodities prices fell with crude palm oil down RM90 to RM2,495 while light crude oil slipped US$1.16 to US$50.39.

At 12.30pm, the KL Composite Index stumbled 16.85 points or 1.7% to 975.83. Turnover was 1.35 billion shares valued at RM800.72 million. There were 143 gainers, 468 losers and 163 counters unchanged.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 2.7% to 14,845.22, Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 2.76% 1,801.69 and Japan’s Nikkei 225 dipped 0.35% to 8,677.60. Shanghai’s Composite Index lost 1.2% to 2,419.15.

In Mexico City, fears of a global swine flu pandemic grew with new infections in the US and Canada on April 26, and millions of Mexicans stayed indoors to avoid a virus that has killed 103 people.

The death toll from the flu in Mexico has risen to 103 and about 400 people still are in hospitals around the country, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said late on April 26, according to Reuters.

At Bursa Malaysia, the major decliners were Bursa and BHCB which fell 25 sen each to RM5.95 and RM7.90, Public Bank foreign and Public Bank to RM8.45, and RM8.35 and Sime Darby 20 sen to RM6.45 and Tenaga slipped 20 sen to RM7.05 while Proton lost 19 sen to RM2.87.

Genting fell 22 sen to RM4.66 while MAS fell 10 sen to RM3.04 and AirAsia 11 sen to RM1.14 on concerns the swine flu would impact the tourism industry and air travel.

However, Bloomberg reported AirAsia CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes as saying that sales at the AirAsia were so far unaffected by the spread of the virus.

However, glove makers rose on expectations their products would be more needed during the outbreak. Top Glove rose 40 sen to RM5.90, Kossan 16 sen to RM3.50 and Adventa 13.5 sen to RM1.01.

Ramunia extended its second day of gains on news that government-linked companies (GLCs) could be interested in the company. Ramunia rose 12 sen to 65.5 sen, Ramunia-WA added 12 sen to 39.5 sen.

KUB rose four sen to 43 sen on its proposed dividend plan.