KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended its losses, bucking the strong performance in the US market last Friday.
Significant profit-taking weighed on heavyweight stocks, particularly Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the banking sectors.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 0.73 per cent or 11.98 points, to close at 1,609.26 from Friday's close of 1,621.24.
The benchmark index, which opened 4.39 points higher at 1,625.63, moved between 1,609.24 and 1,627.23 during the trading session.
Market breadth was negative with decliners thumping gainers 685 to 357, while 480 counters were unchanged, 885 untraded and 15 suspended.
Turnover narrowed to 2.67 billion units valued at RM2.02 billion versus 2.69 billion units worth RM1.86 billion on Friday.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said today's selling is an opportunity for bargain hunting in stocks that have taken a severe beating, particularly blue chips, given their cheaper valuations.
"As we approach year-end, we expect some portfolio realignments and window dressing activities to occur.
"Therefore, we anticipate the FBM KLCI to stage a rebound in the near term and trend within the range of 1,600–1,630 for the week," said Thong.
Among the heavyweights, MR DIY Group (M) Bhd trimmed 4.0 sen to RM2.12, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd lost 9.0 sen to RM4.84, Public Bank Bhd shed 8.0 sen to RM4.41, Malayan Banking Bhd dropped 16.0 sen to RM10.34, and Hong Leong Bank Bhd slid 26.0 sen to RM20.28.
Of the most active counters, Azam Jaya Bhd jumped 31 sen to RM1.09, Mega Fortris Bhd erased 1.5 sen to 65.5 sen, Velesto Energy Bhd slipped half-a-sen to 18.5 sen, Talam Transform Bhd added half-a-sen to 3.0 sen, and Cape EMS Bhd rose 1.0 sen to 37.0 sen.