KL stocks mixed in early trading

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia opened mixed in early trading Monday following weaker regional markets, dealers said.

After 10 minutes of trading, the underlying FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI inched up 0.33 of a point to 1,643.33 after opening 0.16 of a point lower at 1,642.84, driven by plantation and finance stocks.

HwangDBS Vickers Research Sdn Bhd said renewed concerns over eurozone's intensifying sovereign debt crisis forced Wall Street to finish weaker on Friday.

"The negative vibes will likely put Asian investors on the defensive today," the research house said, adding that the benchmark FBM KLCI is expected to pull back towards the immediate 1,635 suppor level.

Bursa Malaysia's Finance Index rose 3.7 points to 14,694.91, the Plantation Index gained 11.75 points to 8,876.68, while the Industrial Index fell 0.62 of a point to 2,874.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Emas Index slid 0.78 points to 11,256.69, the Malaysia Mid 70 Index dwindled 18.17 points to 12,439.71 and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Ace Index added 0.11 points to 4,300.71.

Losers outpaced gainers 91 to 81 while 141 counters were unchanged, 1,275 untraded and 12 others were suspended.

A total of 65.71 million shares worth RM240.05 million were traded.

Among the active stocks, Naim Indah added 1.5 en to 32.5 sen, DBE Gurney Resources Bhd was flat at eight sen and Harvest Court Industries gained four sen to 62 sen.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank was flat at RM8.74, Sime Darby earned one sen to RM9.95 and CIMB lost one sen to RM7.87. -- BERNAMA

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