KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): The FBM KLCI fell 0.38% at the midday break today, following the trend at major regional markets, dragged by losses at key index-linked blue chips.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 6.42 points to 1,681.26.

Losers led gainers by 319 to 227, while 478 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.49 billion shares valued at RM801.94 million.

The top losers included Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd and British American Tobacco (M) Bhd.

The actives included Sapura Energy Bhd, JAG Bhd, Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd, Perdana Petroleum Bhd, Dynaciate Group Bhd, FVG Holdings Bhd and Destini Bhd.

The gainers included Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd, Bina Darulaman Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Spritzer Bhd, JF Technology Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd and Yinson Holdings Bhd.

Asian shares slipped from six-month highs on Wednesday as investors took profits ahead of a policy decision by the US Federal Reserve which is expected to shed more light on its interest rate plans for the rest of the year, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.4%, led by losses in Australia and South Korea, it said.

Affin Hwang Capital Research said the FBM KLCI Index fell slightly despite overnight gains in the US market.

It said the index shed 3.26 points or 0.19% yesterday, closing at 1,687.68.

"As discussed previously, prices are showing rejection around the 20-day & 50-day EMA (exponential moving average), previously acting as support but now potentially be a resistance level.

"Prices have also rebounded almost 50% from the previous down move which may indicate that the move higher may be ending soon. FBM KLCI Index resuming its short-term downtrend," it said.