KUALA LUMPUR: Stocks on Bursa Malaysia retreated at the midday break on Wednesday, Dec 9 in line with key regional markets as investors remained cautious as they braced for more news from the debt-laden Dubai and Japan's economy grew slower than earlier anticipated.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 1.81 points to 1,259.65. Turnover was 331.2 million shares valued at RM403.9 million. There were 153 gainers, 326 losers and 788 stocks unchanged.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.28% to 10,010.8 as the economy grew only at 0.3% in the third quarter, sharply less than a preliminary estimate, as the country's recovery from its worst postwar recession is still weighed down by slow capital spending.

Reuters reported the revision from 1.2 percent growth estimated earlier was due to a decline in capital spending and cuts in inventories as companies remain reluctant to spend in the face of weak final demand.

Shanghai's Composite Index lost 1.62% to 3,243.21 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.9% to 21,871.43 and Singapore's Straits Times Index shed 0.2% to 2,801.05.

Crude palm oil futures fell RM35 to RM2,525 but light crude oil rose 55 cents to US$73.17 and US spot gold added US$5.70 to US$1,134.10.

BAT fell the most, down 70 sen to RM42.50 among the 30-stocks on the FBM KLCI. Genting fell four sen to RM7.09, CIMB four sen to RM12.82 while IOI Corp gave up two sen to RM5.40 and Genting Malaysia three sen to RM2.81.

Dutch Lady fell 30 sen to RM12.50 but with 30,000 shares done.

Amid the cautious sentiment, DSC Solutions made a strong debut on the ACE Market, rising 52 sen to 77 sen with 57.5 million shares done.

Ramunia rose 2.5 sen to 40 sen and the warrants three sen to 28.5 sen in active trade after Sime Darby paid more for its shipyard and assets.

Vastalux fell one sen to 17.5 sen after its vice chairman and executive director Mohamad Nor Abdul Rashid has continued to reduce his shareholding in the company.

He sold another 13 million shares for 16.5 sen each in the open market on Dec 3. The previous day on Dec 2, he had also disposed of 13 million shares in the open market. The latest disposal reduced his total shareholding to 14% or 28.94 million shares.

MNRB rose nine sen to RM3.15, Aeon Credit eight sen to RM4 and Tanjong also eight sen higher at RM16.48