KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia declined more into the red at midday, as foreign investors were possibly diverted to Chinese markets.
Selling pressure was especially strong in utilities counters as the index declined 1.51 per cent or 26.68 points.
YTL Power International fell 5.48 per cent or 21 sen to RM3.62 while Tenaga Nasional down 0.41 per cent or 6 sen to RM14.60.
Besides utilities index, financial services index was also down by 0.93 per cent.
Financial services led by heavyweights such as Public Bank that declined 2.14 per cent or 10 cent to RM4.57 while Hong Leong Financial Group down 0.4 oer cent or 8 sen to RM20.02.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined 0.72 per cent or 11.99 points to 1,659.33, compared to Thursday's close. The key index opened 2.73 points lower at 1,668.59.
Across the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 597 to 349, with 438 counters unchanged, 1,142 untraded and 123 suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.82 billion shares worth RM1.23 billion.