KUALA LUMPUR (March 19): The FBM KLCI pared some of its gains at the midday break today, as regional markets slipped into the red.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was up 1.87 points to 1,848.26. The index had earlier risen to a high of 1,850.16.

Decliners led advancers by 333 to 235, while 561 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.02 billion shares valued at RM615.50 million.

The gainers included United Plantations Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd, Magni-Tech Industries Bhd, Brahim’s Holdings Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd and Lafarge Malaysia Bhd.

The actives included Sapura Energy Bhd, NetX Holdings Bhd, Brahim’s, Dagang NeXchange Bhd, NWP Holdings Bhd, Vizione Holdings Bhd, Nexgram Holdings Bdh, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd and UMW Oil & Gas Corp Bhd.

The losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Tasek Corp Bhd, Rapid Synergy Bhd and Top Glove Corp Bhd.

Asian share markets slipped into the red on Monday, as caution gripped investors in a week in which the Federal Reserve is likely to hike U.S. interest rates and perhaps signal that as many as three more lie in store for the rest of the year, according to Reuters.

Japan's Nikkei extended early losses to drop 1.3% as exporters were undermined by recent broad-based gains in the yen, Reuters said.

Affin Hwang IB senior associate director and head of retail research Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan said regional markets were expected to trade mixed with a downward bias.

He said the recent hire and fire in the Trump administration has swayed sentiments toward less bullish and may significantly wane down Trump’s factors, which all this while supported the U.S market.

“Latest market talks linger around the possibility of Trump imposing tariffs on China, which viewed at negative for the global economy, as it will only spur protectionism policies.

“Stocks in Bursa Malaysia are anticipated to drift sideways; focus might be more on oil and gas stocks, as crude oil prices are edging upward,” Dr Nazri said.