KL shares end lower

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed lower today amid profit taking and weaker sentiment in the regional markets, dealers said.

The benchmark FBM KLCI declined 5.83 points to 1,583.75, after opening 3.61 points lower at 1,595.66.

A dealer said the weaker sentiment in the Asian market was brought on by a weak Spanish bond auction that inflamed concerns about the European debt crisis as well as concerns on the US economy.

"Investors may also be tempted by negative news from the US Federal Reserve about US job growth," an analyst said.

The Finance Index slipped 56.79 points to 14,298.64, the Industrial Index declined 18.47 points to 2,869.08 but the Plantation Index improved 6.99 points to 8,762.4.

The FBM Emas Index shed 34.34 points to 10,926.24, the FBM70 Index was 33.19 points lower at 12,016.75 while the FBM ACE Index advanced 12.51 points to 4,503.84.

Decliners beat advancers 352 to 342 while 317 counters were unchanged, 520 untraded and 27 others suspended.

Turnover was lower at 1.14 billion shares worth RM1.22 billion from the 1.195 billion shares worth RM1.1 billion yesterday.

Of the actives, Metronic Global added 2.5 sen to 17.5 sen, Naim Indah rose 5.5 sen to 48.5 sen, Ariantec Global advanced one sen to 11.5 sen and Focus Dynamics earned l.5 sen to 18 sen.

As for heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB slipped six sen each to RM8.82 and RM7.66 respectively, while Sime Darby lost four sen to RM9.84 and Petronas Chemicals shed one sen to RM6.71.
-- Bernama