KUALA LUMPUR (April 29): The FBM KLCI was down 0.31% at the midday break today, in line with the slip at neighbouring markets.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 5.04 points to 1,633.34.

Losers led gainers by 447 to 147, while 489 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.48 billion shares valued at RM801.45 million.

The top losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, DWL Resources Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, Allianz Malaysia Bhd and UEM Edgenta Bhd.

The actives included Ekovest Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, Seacera Group Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, Priceworth International Bhd, Daya Materials Bhd and Iskandar Waterfront City Bhd.

The gainers included Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Yee Lee Corp Bhd, Can-One Bhd, Sunsuria Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Bhd, G3 Global Bhd and Ajinomoto (M) Bhd.

Singapore shares touched a near 11-month peak on Monday, boosted by DBS Group Holdings Ltd after the lender posted a record quarterly profit, while most other Southeast Asian markets slipped as soft US inflation data eclipsed upbeat GDP numbers, according to Reuters.

DBS Group, Southeast Asia's biggest lender, beat estimates to report its highest-ever quarterly profit, sending shares up 2.9% to their firmest level since June 2018, it said.

Affin Hwang Capital Research said the FBM KLCI Index dropped around 6 points towards an intraday low of 1,632.58 on Friday (April 26) before paring losses. At the end of the session, the index was up 2.7 points or 0.17%, closing near open at 1,638.38.

"Last week recap: Following the formation of a bullish pin bar (candlestick pattern) on the daily chart around the 1,615 key support, prices have been staging a minor rally.

"The index broke its five-week losing streak as bulls finally managed to register a positive, green week. However, prices are now showing signs of stalling at the 20-day EMA (exponential moving average), potentially acting as a dynamic resistance area," it said.