KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended lower today, pressured by profit-taking after a four-day rally while most of the regional markets traded higher.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) dropped 10.89 points, or 0.67 per cent, to end at 1,623.28 compared to Wednesday's close of 1,634.17.
The key index opened 1.97 points higher at 1,636.14 and moved between 1,622.75 and 1,639.55 throughout the day.
On the broader market, losers led gainers 641 to 466, while 507 counters were unchanged, 792 untraded, and 10 suspended.
Turnover expanded to 3.78 billion units valued at RM3.42 billion versus 3.4 billion units valued at RM2.92 billion on Wednesday.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice president Thong Pak Leng said FBM KLCI ended in red due to profit-taking following the recent gains while regional markets traded higher following Wall Street's positive performance.
Meanwhile, China and Hong Kong markets were sharply higher on hope that China stimulus plan will lift the world's second largest economy.
"Back home, we are positive on the local market despite some profit taking activity as the fundamentals of the local economy and corporates are improving.
"The long term view for the FBM KLCI is still on uptrend despite some sell-off today as the market needs to digest the recent uptrend. The index target maintain at 1,610 to 1,640 range," Thong added.