KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 8): The FBM KLCI dipped 0.37% at the midday break today as profit taking halted the rally since last one week that saw the local index amass some 25 points week-on-week.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was down 6.91 points to 1,849.60.

Gainers edged losers by 347 to 317, while 342 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 932.30 million shares valued at RM759.92 million.

The top losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Lay Hong Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Batu Kawan Bhd and Hartalega Holdings Bhd.

The actively traded stocks included YFG Bhd, Privasia Technology Bhd, Nova MSC Bhd, Wintoni Group Bhd, Hovid Bhd and Eti Tech Corporation Bhd.

The top gainers included LTKM Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, DanaInfra Nasional Bhd, Pestech International Bhd, Muhibbah Engineering Bhd and Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd.

Japanese shares scaled 15-year peaks on Wednesday while Hong Kong's market leapt to seven-year highs amid speculation of more stimulus from China and Japan as well as a delayed start to any tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve, according to Reuters.

The Bank of Japan disappointed some by ending a two-day policy meeting with no new steps in its already massive bond-buying campaign, nudging the dollar down on the yen, it said.

Maybank IB head of retail research and chief chartist Lee Cheng Hooi in a note to clients today said the FBM KLCI rose 13.57 points to 1,856.51 yesterday, while the FBMEMAS and FBM100 also closed higher by 80.93 points and 82.39 points, respectively.

“We expect some buying at the supports of 1,837 to 1,856, whilst liquidation activities may cap rebounds at the resistances of 1,858 and 1,870,” he said.