KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 19): The FBM KLCI retreated at the midday break today in line with regional markets that slipped after the recent rally.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 2.55 points to 1,677.47. Among the indices, construction, consumer, finance and plantation were in the red.

The top losers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Genting Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, TIME dotCom Bhd, C.I. Holdings Bhd, Globetronics Technology Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, JMR Conglomeration Bhd, PLB Engineering Bhd and LPI Capital Bhd.

The actives included Sanichi Technology Bhd, JAB Bhd, Jadi Imaging Holdings Bhd, MMAG Holdings Bhd, Tiger Synergy Bhd and Scomi Group Bhd.

The gainers included Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd, Sin Heng Chan Holdings Bhd, MISC Bhd, Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, Panasonic Malaysia Manufacturing Bhd, Gas Malaysia Bhd and Texchem Resources Bhd.

Asian shares slipped from near three-week highs on Friday as a rally in oil prices reversed and investors remained cautious about the outlook for the global economy, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.7%, but gains in previous sessions left it up 4% for the week, it said.

BIMB Securities Research said that in Asia, stocks ended higher with strong gains in Japan and Korea.

It said back home, the FBM KLCI closed higher, gained 15.7 points or 0.94% to 1,680.02, lifted mainly by oil and gas and banking stocks.

"Trading participation saw net buying by foreign institutions while local institutions and retail were net sellers.

"We expect some profit taking activities today with the index hover in the region 1,670–1,675," it said.