KL shares open mixed on cautious sentiment

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia opened mixed in early trading today, as sentiments remained cautious following losses in the global market on renewed concerns of the Eurozone debt crisis and prevailing weaknesses in the US job market, dealers said.

As at 9.13 am, the FBM KLCI was 0.36 of a point easier at 1,596.26, after opening 0.22 of a point higher at 1,596.84.

The Finance Index lost 35.221 points to 14,249.47, the Industrial Index however rose 4.99 points to 2,869.67 and the Plantation Index gained 28.67 points to 8,810.24.

The FBM Emas Index fell 1.25 points to 10,946.74, the FBM Mid 70 Index rose 7.44 points to 12,028.90 and the FBM ACE Index added 2.35 points to 4,622.25.

Gainers outpaced losers 108 to 66 while 126 counters were unchanged, 1,234 untraded and 20 others were suspended. Turnover stood at 98.1 million shares worth RM46.3 million.

Actives, Ariantec Global gained two sen to 19.5 sen, SMPC Corp-Loan Rights rose half a sen to 1.5 sen, Astral Supreme added half a sen to 27 sen and China Stationery Limited gained three sen to RM1.66.

Heavyweights, Maybank shed two sen to RM8.82, Sime Darby added one sen to RM9.90, CIMB lost one sen to RM7.62 and Petronas Chemicals slipped one sen to RM6.69. -- BERNAMA