The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended the mid-day 30.07 points lower while the ringgit was also battered in morning trade along with its regional peers.

At 12.30pm, the key index eased 30.07 points or 1.85 percent to 1,591.55 after moving between 1,591.16 and 1,626.9 throughout the session, while the ringgit touched 4.127 against the US dollar.

Among regional peers, Japan’s Nikkei 225 eased 0.33 per cent to 20,530.10 and the Jakarta Composite fell 0.31 per cent to 4,569.69.  

On other scoreboards, the FBM Emas Index slid 195.83 points to 10,934.31,  the FBMT100 Index decreased 185.55 points to 10,666.65 and the FBM Emas Shariah declined 192.12 points to 11,360.13.

The FBM Ace lost 220.62 points to 5,403.54 and the FBM 70 trimmed 145.59 points to 11,775.46.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index lost 291.81 points to 14,257.38, the Industrial Index was down 35.78 points to 3,075.11 and the Plantation Index slipped 64.49 points to 6,998.25.

Losers thumped gainers 765 to 99 with 191 counters unchanged, 745 counters untraded and 12 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.20 billion shares worth RM989.90 million.

Among actives, Ingenuity Consolidated was flat at 6.5 sen, Frontken declined one sen to 20.5 sen, while Tiger Synergy and APFT slid half-a-sen to 9.5 sen and 23 sen respectively.  

Of the heavyweights, Maybank trimmed 26 sen to RM8.34, Public Bank depreciated 34 sen to RM17.96, TNB contracted 40 sen to RM10.46 and Axiata declined 14 sen to RM5.77.   

- Bernama