KUALA LUMPUR (March 23): The FBM KLCI fell 1.3 points or 0.1% as investors took profit in the final trading minutes ahead of a crucial vote later today on US President Donald Trump's proposal to repeal existing US healthcare laws.

The vote is closely watched as a litmus test for Trump's other policies as investors evaluated whether he will be able to implement his plans for the US economy.

In Malaysia, the KLCI closed at 1,747 points at 5pm after touching its intraday high at 1,753.76 points. Across Bursa Malaysia, 4.78 billion shares worth RM3.67 billion were exchanged. Gainers beat decliners at 596 versus 378 respectively.

"The vote on Obamacare is a litmus test for Trump. If he can't push through the Bill, it would further damage stocks. It also raises the risk of his other policies, like tax cuts, being delayed," Reuters quoted Masafumi Yamamoto, chief forex strategist at Mizuho Securities in Tokyo, as saying.

In Malaysia, Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd research head Chan Ken Yew told theedgemarkets.com the KLCI could be ripe for a correction due to a lack of support for KLCI-linked shares as penny stocks hogged the limelight.

“We are seeing better sentiment in the market. There was more activity in penny stocks today and trading volume has generally been good over the past few months. However, there is a lack of support for the KLCI and we are anticipating a correction in the short term,” Chan said.