KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): The FBM KLCI settled up 6.98 points or 0.42% at 1,653.51 during Bursa Malaysia's noon break today while the Technology index fell over 1% to become the top percentage decliner among bourse gauges after US-listed Facebook Inc's share price closed down 1.93% overnight on news the company is facing US government lawsuits for the alleged breach of antitrust law.

Across Bursa at 12.30pm today, 4.56 billion securities were traded for RM2.55 billion.

Bursa's Technology index, which tracks share prices of companies including semiconductor manufacturers, settled down 1.09% following news reports, which indicated that Facebook could be forced to sell its prized assets WhatsApp and Instagram after the US Federal Trade Commission and nearly every US state filed lawsuits against the social media company, claiming it used a "buy or bury" strategy to snap up rivals and keep smaller competitors at bay.

"With the filing of the twin lawsuits on Wednesday, Facebook becomes the second big tech company to face a major legal challenge this year after the US Justice Department sued Alphabet Inc's Google in October, accusing the US$1 trillion company of using its market power to fend off rivals," Reuters reported.

Across Bursa today, top gainers included Kumpulan Powernet Bhd while leading decliners included semiconductor manufacturer Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd (MPI).

Kumpulan Powernet's share price settled up 21 sen or 4.02% at RM5.43 after the company said yesterday its wholly-owned subsidary KPower Engineering Sdn Bhd on Tuesday accepted the letter of award to construct a mini hydro power plant in Sungai Singor, Perak for a contract price of RM296 million.

In a statement to Bursa yesterday, Kumpulan Powernet said it received the letter of award from Kangsar Hidro Sdn Bhd.

At 12.30pm today, the share price of MPI, which is a Technology index constituent, fell 26 sen or 1.02% to RM25.22.

Rival semiconductor manufacturer Unisem (M) Bhd dropped four sen or 0.69% to RM5.72.