KL shares end lower on profit-taking

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended softer today on active profit
taking activities in bluechips after the recent gains, dealers said.

The
FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) which posted a new record high
yesterday of 1,788.43 ended today's trading at 1,783.03, down by 5.4
points.

The key index had hovered between 1,781.02 and 1,793.87 throughout the trading session today.

Gainers led losers by 606 to 286 with 271 counters unchanged and 431 untraded, including 18 which were suspended.



Regional bourses traded higher amid better investor sentiment following
suprising US retail sales in April, but gains were capped by lingering
concerns over China’s economic growth.

Alliance
Research Sdn Bhd analyst Teoh Chang Yeow said investors took their
profit from the counters after the KLCI index managed to stay higher
for two consecutive days.

"Although some buyers put more bets
on the counters, the key index had still failed to push towards the
barrier level of 1,800 since yesterday as mild profit-taking was
spotted," he said adding that most bluechips turned to red at the end
of trading today.

"Hence, we expect the selling activities to
continue tomorrow as the immediate level support will be at the 1,775
level," he told Bernama.

On the scoreboard, the Finance Index
dipped 23.939 points to 16,837.75, the Plantation Index lost 57.95
points to 8,330.79, and the Industrial Index added 33.02 points to
3,019.76.

The FBM Emas Index slid 2.619 points to 12,346.65 and the FBMT100 lost 9.13 points to 12,133.92.

The FBM Mid 70 Index advanced 100.54 points to 14,124.14, while the FBM Ace Index jumped 225.52 points to 4,704.33.

Volume increased to 2.952 billion units worth RM2.701 billion from 2.24 billion shares worth RM2.679 billion recorded yesterday.

Among
actives, Naim Indah rose 1.5 sen to 21.5 sen, Hubline and Patimas
Computers earned half-a-sen to 6.5 sen and 5.5 sen respectively, Iris
rose four sen to 22 sen and Tiger Synergy added 2.5 sen to 35 sen.

Of
the heavyweights, Maybank was flat at RM10.14, CIMB erased seven sen to
RM8.40, Axiata and Sime Darby fell three sen each to RM6.95 and RM9.57
respectively while Maxis shed a sen to RM6.95.

Volume on the
Main Market rose to 2.378 billion shares worth RM2.611 billion from
yesterday's 1.98 billion shares worth RM2.639 billion.

Turnover
on the ACE Market advanced to 517.121 million units valued at RM79.997
million from 209.32 million units valued at RM30.548 million on Tuesday.

Warrants decreased to 50.30 million units worth RM7.253 million, from 54.11 million units worth RM7.344 million previously.

Consumer
products accounted for 256.638 million shares on the Main Market,
industrial products 522.140 million, construction 91.857 million, trade
and services 915.679 million, technology 173.184 million,
infrastructure 19.567 million, SPAC 39.793 million, finance 76.241
million, hotels 1.898 million, properties 233.487 million, plantations
31.175 million, mining 80,600, REITs 16.613 million and closed/fund
96,300.-- Bernama