KUALA LUMPUR (June 25): The FBM KLCI remained in negative territory at mid-morning today as lack of fresh catalysts kept local investors sidelined.

At 10.01am, the FBM KLCI was down 5.66 points to 1,726.02.

The top losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Allianz (M) Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, PPB Group Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

The actives included KNM Group Bhd, Sumatec Resources Bhd, AirAsia Bhd, APFT Bhd, TMC Life Sciences Bhd, Frontken Corporation Bhd and Perisai Petroleum Bhd.

The gainers included Danainfra Nasional Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, YSP South East Asia Holdings Bhd and Hai-O Enterprise Bhd.

US stock futures and the dollar were steady in early Asian trade on Thursday, with investors on ice ahead of a meeting of European Union leaders later in the session as Greece continued its last-minute efforts to avert a default, according to Reuters.

Athens's talks with creditors bogged down on details, with next week's deadline to repay 1.6 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund looming and threatening to trigger the country's removal from the euro zone, it said.

BIMB Securities Research said key regional indexes closed broadly higher yesterday with sharp increase in Shanghai while Japan rose to its highest in more than 18 years.

Locally, it said the FBM KLCI ended higher on late buying, up 4.28 points to 1,731.68, lifted mainly by oil and gas and banking stocks.

“Trading participation saw net selling by foreign institutions and local retail while local institutions were net buyers.

“We expect the local market to be flat today due to lack of fresh catalysts with the index hover around 1,725–1,730,” it said.