KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 15): The FBM KLCI ended the morning session in the negative zone today despite regional markets steadying.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI shed 0.26 points to 1,629.70.

Gainers edged losers by 332 to 293, while 343 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 608.24 million shares valued at RM599.31 million.

The decliners included Nestle (M) Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Kluang Rubber Company (Malaya) Bhd, Westports Holdings Bhd, P.I.E. Industrial Bhd, Subur Tiasa Holdings Bhd and Lay Hong Bhd.

The actives included Red Sena Bhd, Instacom Group Bhd, AirAsia Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd, The Media Shoppe Bhd, XOX Bhd and Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Bhd.

The gainers included Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd, Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, Inari Amertron Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and Karex Bhd.

Asian shares firmed on Tuesday as recently volatile crude oil prices showed some stability, though gains were limited by caution ahead of a widely anticipated US interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve (Fed), according to Reuters.

China's yuan, meanwhile, weakened against the dollar after the People's Bank of China set its official midpoint rate at its lowest level in more than four years for a second day, it said.

AffinHwang Capital Research said the local market is anticipated to drift sideways within a tight range.

It said global equity market sentiments are influenced by speculation in the Fed rate hike, falling commodities prices and China's economy slow down.

"Technically, market breadth gradually turns negative and slightly bearish for the short term," it said.

(Note: The Edge Research's fundamental score reflects a company's profitability and balance sheet strength, calculated based on historical numbers. The valuation score determines if a stock is attractively valued or not, also based on historical numbers. A score of 3 suggests strong fundamentals and attractive valuations.)