KUALA LUMPUR (March 17): Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd (HLFG), Press Metal Aluminium Bhd and Maxis Bhd led the declines among the 30 component stocks of the FBM KLCI in early trade today.

However Dialog Group Bhd, AMMB Holdings Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd were among the top gainers among the constituents.

As of noon break, the local benchmark index had pared some of the losses seen during the morning trading session. It managed to claw back from an intra-morning low of 1,211.95 points, at ended up settling 0.37% or 4.80 points lower at 1,275.83 points.

At the time of writing, shares in HLFG were trading 5.01% or 62 sen lower at RM11.76 on a trading volume of 462,700 shares. The group now has a market capitalisation of RM13.5 billion.

HLFG shares opened lower at RM9.75, before climbing to an intra-morning high of 12.20 before falling to noon-break levels. Shares in the financial services group have reached a five-year low.

Press Metal shares had earlier led the decline in the KLCI during the first hour of trading today and were trading as much as 61 sen or 17.58% lower. Since then, the aluminium company has pared some of the losses suffered earlier today, trading 2.31% or eight sen lower at RM3.39 per share.

The last time shares in Press Metal were trading at noon-close levels was in mid-August 2017.

Maxis was also one of the top decliners among the 30 constituent stocks. Shares in the telco were trading 4.62% or 24 sen lower at RM4.95 apiece and reached a five-year low — giving it a market cap of RM38.71 billion.

On the other hand, Dialog shares rose by 5% or 14 sen to RM2.94, on a trading volume of 7.96 million shares. The oil and gas (O&G) counter now has a market cap of RM16.59 billion.

Shares in Maybank climbed during the morning session on Bursa Malaysia today, and at noon close were trading 1.78% or 13 sen higher at RM7.42, giving it a market cap of RM81.51 billion.

AMMB shares also saw a similar movement and were trading 3.33% or 10 sen higher at RM3.10.

Asian bourses today were a mixed bag. At the time of writing, the Straits Times Index was trading 0.92% or 23.06 points lower at 2,472.71 points. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.15% or 4.22 points at 2,784.03 points, while the Hong Kong Hang Seng posted a marginal gain of 0.78% or 180.58 points to 23,244.15 points.

In South Korea, the Kospi shrunk by 2.11% or 36.25 points to 1,678.61 points while the Nikkei 225 in Japan was trading 0.79% or 133.59 points higher at 17,135.63 points.