At 9.05am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slid 2.01 points to 1,597.65 from yesterday’s close of 1,599.66.
The benchmark index had opened slightly lower at 1,599.57.
Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 147 to 135. Meanwhile, 272 counters were unchanged, 2,109 untraded, and 18 suspended.
Turnover stood at 147.36 million units worth RM55.86 million.
In a research note, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said it is positive about HE Group Bhd given its recent contract wins, marking its entry into the data centre segment. It also believes the stock to be trading at attractive prices versus its peers.
“Moreover, with a sizeable order book, rising demand in substation services and undemanding valuation, we believe traders should focus on CBH Engineering Holding Bhd.
“Anyway, following the developments in Solarvest Holdings Bhd and the recent rollout of fifth large-scale solar (LSS5) packages, we foresee buying interest could sustain in renewable energy counters like Kawan Renergy Bhd and Northern Solar Holdings Bhd,” it said.
Among the heavyweights, Public Bank shed one sen to RM4.29, CIMB Group fell three sen to RM7.26, Tenaga Nasional and Maybank were down two sen each to RM13.26 and RM9.81 respectively, while IHH Healthcare was unchanged at RM7.36.
In active trade, NexG Bina added one sen to 10 sen, TWL Holdings and NexG both inched up half-a-sen to three sen and 52 sen, respectively. XOX Technology and Malayan United Industries were flat at 7.5 sen and 6.5 sen, respectively.
Top losers included Petronas Dagangan, down 24 sen to RM22.06; Eurospan Holdings, 11 sen to RM2.44; Press Metal Aluminium Holdings, five sen to RM5.79; Unisem (M), five sen to RM2.79; and Manulife Holdings, five sen to RM2.08.
Top gainers were Malaysian Pacific Industries, up 34 sen to RM30.10; KSL Holdings, 11 sen to RM3.42; Hong Leong Financial Group, eight sen to RM16.90; Hong Leong Bank, six sen to RM20.20 and KUB Malaysia, four sen to 81.5 sen.
On the broader market, the FBM Emas Index fell 9.97 points to 11,931.98, the FBM 100 Index lost 11.52 points to 11,664.73, the FBM Emas Shariah Index slipped 0.19 of-a-point to 11,986.40, the FBM 70 Index dropped 3.08 points to 16,862.54, while the FBM ACE Index rose 1.25 points to 5,064.01.
By sector, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 0.68 of-a-point to 170.78, the Financial Services Index dipped 20.92 points to 18,061.67, while the Plantation Index soared 14.08 points to 7,728.31, and the Energy Index gained 2.03 points to 770.78.