KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 14): The FBM KLCI fell 9.1 points, tracking Asian share losses on low crude oil prices at near US$30 a barrel and as the bomb explosion in Jakarta, Indonesia rocked sentiment.

At Bursa Malaysia, the KLCI declined 0.6% to close at 1,633.44 points. Across the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 2.68%, South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.85%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 0.59%.

At 5:06pm, Brent crude oil was traded at US$30.17 a barrel.

Reuters reported that Asian shares fell on Thursday in the wake of steep losses on Wall Street, as Brent crude oil skidded to 12-year lows, amid a commodities rout that heightened fears about the global economy.

In Jakarta, Reuters, quoting Indonesia's chief security minister, reported that five militants, including one foreigner, were killed in the gun and bomb assault in central Jakarta.

In Malaysia, analysts told theedgemarkets.com that the KLCI's decline today was not as bad as expected, considering the Jakarta bombing incident and overnight US share losses.

“I think the (market) performance today exceeded our expectation, considering the development in Jakarta and the sharp sell down in the US,” Etiqa Insurance & Takaful's head of research Chris Eng said over telephone.

“The smaller-than-expected decline can be attributed to the fact that the market has already priced in the low crude oil prices, and also due to thin foreign shareholding in the local capital market,” Eng said.

Bursa Malaysia saw two billion shares, worth RM2.1 billion, traded. There were 681 decliners against 222 gainers, while 305 counters remained unchanged.

The biggest decliner was British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, while top gainers included Hang Seng-linked put warrant HSI-HW, besides Malaysian food producers Cocoaland Holdings Bhd and QL Resources Bhd.

The most active counters included Sanichi Technology Bhd and KLCI-linked put warrant FBMKLCI-HK.   

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