KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed midday lower as investors took to profit-taking amid rising Middle East tesnions.
At 12.30pm, FTSE Bursa Malaysia (FBM) KLCI pared some of its earlier losses to closed 0.23 per cent or 3.7 points lower to 1,635.61.
The key index opened at 1,640.70 and moved between 1,630.45 and 1,643.82 levels.
Losers led gainers by 504 to 361 in the broader market while 477 counters were unchanged.
Energy stocks outperformed the market, with the index rising one per cent from a surge in oil price following supply fears triggered by Iran's attack on Israel.
FBM100 lost 0.26 per cent to 11,929.54, FBM Emas dropped 0.25 per cent to 12,235.22 and FBM Ace was down 0.2 per cent to 5,115.42.
HengYuan Refining Company Bhd was the top gainers, adding 34 sen or 16.27 per cent to RM2.43.
Losers included Pertama Digital Bhd which shed 48 sen to RM1.12 and Nestle (M) Bhd which lost 90 sen to RM104.60.