KLCI closed sharply lower

KUALA LUMPUR: The KLCI fell in tandem with Asian markets to close sharply lower on Thursday as worries mount about the health of the US economy.

The local bourse’s fall was led by heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd, Genting Bhd, Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd and IOI Corp Bhd.

At 5pm, the KLCI fell 16.49 points (1.54%) to 1,054.41 while Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 1.51% to 2,237.20.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 1.39% to 9,703.72, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.70% to 17,776.66 and South Korea’s Kospi lost 1.11% to 1,375.76.

The Shanghai Composite Index, however, gained 1.56% to 2,853.90 after the World Bank raised its 2009 growth forecast for China.

At Bursa Malaysia, 90 counters were up, 723 counters were down and 138 were traded unchanged. There were 1.73 billion shares done with a total value of RM1.62 billion.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank lost 25 sen to RM5.65, Bumiputra-Commerce slipped 20 sen to RM8.95, Genting fell 20 sen to RM5.35 and IOI Corp was down 8 sen to RM4.52.

Tenaga fell 10 sen to RM7.60, Axiata lost 5 sen to RM2.23, Sime slipped 5 sen to RM6.80 and IJM was down 20 sen to RM5.45.

Oil-related stocks KNM slipped 6.5 sen to 88.5 sen, Scomi lost 6 sen to 73 sen, SAAG fell 2.5 sen to 31 sen and Shell rose 10 sen to RM10.30.

Crude palm oil 3-month futures fell RM83 to RM2,292 per tonne.

Nymex crude oil added 48 cents to US$71.51 per barrel.

The ringgit was quoted at 3.5411 to the US dollar.

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