KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 19): The FBM KLCI slid 0.19% on Wednesday, weighed down by glove counters following a declining trend in new cases of Covid-19 infections.

The benchmark index erased early gains to close 2.92 points lower at 1,534.16, dragged by profit-taking in Top Glove Corp Bhd and Hartalega Holdings Bhd.

Trading interest was concentrated on mid- and small-caps, with 2.54 billion shares valued at RM1.95 billion changing hands.

PublicInvest Research analyst Lee Siao Ping said the market trailed yesterday’s movement, when small-cap stocks fell by a larger quantum after broad-based selling.

Lee observed that investors are also cautious “as they await the fourth quarter and full-year financial results later this month”.

Across Bursa Malaysia, decliners marginally led gainers, while 400 counters traded unchanged.

Gainers were led by consumer stocks Carlsberg Brewery (M) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd and Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd. Decliners were led by Panasonic Manufacturing (M) Bhd, Top Glove Corp Bhd and Nestle (M) Bhd.

As China’s virus-hit industrial cities are starting to loosen travel curbs and resume production, its National Health Commission reported the lowest daily rise in new infections since Jan 29, or 1,749 new confirmed cases, Reuters reported.

At press time, the number of global confirmed cases stood at 75,205 with 14,733 cured, while the official death toll stood at 2,012.

Across Asia, markets were generally mixed, as investors digested the lower-than-expected decline in Japan’s trade data and Singapore’s expansionary budget to tackle the virus outbreak.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.89%, Singapore’s STI climbed 0.53%, and Hong Kong’s HSI rose 0.46% while China’s Shanghai SSE Index slid 0.32%.