KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 20): The FBM KLCI fell 0.3% while the ringgit weakened past the 4.1400 level against the US dollar as slower world economic growth concerns hit stock, oil and currency markets.

Reuters reported that stocks, oil and emerging market currencies fell on Thursday as fading expectations for an imminent US interest rate hike following Federal Reserve meeting minutes stoked anxiety about the health of the global economy.

Pressure on emerging market currencies intensified as investors fretted over China as well as US growth.

In Malaysia, the KLCI closed 5.03 points lower at 1,577.41 points after reaching an intraday low of 1,562.11. The KLCI pared losses on gains in stocks like Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) and Malayan Banking Bhd.

The KLCI had tracked regional share losses. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.94% lower while South Korea's Kospi retreated 1.28%.

In China, Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed down 1.77% while the Shanghai Composite fell 3.42%.

Bursa Malaysia saw 448 decliners versus 360 gainers. A total of 1.79 billion shares valued RM1.77 billion changed hands.

The top decliner was Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd while the leading gainer was Pharmaniaga Bhd. The most-actively traded counters were KLCI-linked warrants.

Among gainers, plantation group KLK rose two sen or 0.1% to RM20.24. The gains came after the company said net profit rose to RM246.88 million in the third quarter ended June 30, 2015 from RM213.66 million a year earlier.

Cumulative 9MFY15 net profit, however, fell to RM683.62 million from RM820.95 million a year earlier.

CIMB Investment Bank Bhd wrote in a note that KLK's 9MFY15 core net profit was in line with the research house’s estimate at 71% of full-year forecast. KLK's 9MFY15 core profit was, however, below consensus forecast at 66% of full-year estimates.

On the KLCI, a dealer told theedgemarkets.com he observed an interesting trading pattern by foreign funds buying and selling the KLCI's 30 component stocks.

He noted that foreign investors were trading these stocks on a per lot basis, hence, the KLCI's volatility today. One lot comprises 100 shares under Bursa Malaysia trading regulations.

"Trading in these stocks has been programmed to enable them to buy one lot and sell one lot," the dealer said.

In currency markets, the ringgit depreciated to a fresh level of 4.1405 against the US dollar after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said Malaysia had no plans to peg the ringgit to the US dollar.

Zeti said the ringgit was not the only currency which had weakened against the US dollar as other currencies had also depreciated against the greenback.