KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): The FBM KLCI dipped 0.24% at the midday break today as regional markets stayed fragile.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 4.06 points to 1,665.18.

Losers led gainers by 381 to 280, while 299 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 865.76 million shares valued at RM733.28 million.

The top losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd, Keck Seng (Malaysia) Bhd, Gamuda Bhd, Guiness Anchor Bhd, White Horse Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd.

The actives included Instacom Group Bhd, XOX Bhd, IFCA MSC Bhd, EA Holdings Bhd, SYF Resources Bhd, RGB International Bhd and Borneo Oil Bhd.

The top gainers included Panasonic Malaysia Manufacturing Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, P.I.E. Industrial Bhd, APM Automotive Bhd, Warisan TC Holdings Bhd, Magni-Tech Industries Bhd, Supermax Corporation Bhd and Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd.

Asian stocks were down across the board on Wednesday as crumbling oil prices and data pointing to cooling demand from China sapped investor appetite for risk assets, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.2 percent and edged towards its November trough, a break of which would take it to its lowest level since early October, it said.

BIMB Securities Research said that in Asia, key indices ended lower yesterday after global oil benchmarks hit the lowest levels in almost seven years, sending energy stocks and raw materials producers sharply lower.

Back home, it said the FBM KLCI ended flattish, losing 2.76 points or 0.17% to end at 1,669.24, dragged down mainly by O&G stocks.

“Trading participation saw net selling by foreign institutions and local retail while local institutions were net buyers.

“We expect the local market to remain flat with slight bias to down trend due to continuous selling by foreign investors and dampened regional sentiment with the index hovering circa 1,665-1,670,” it said.