KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed lower at mid-day break as profit-taking took hold of the bourse.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 3.40 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 1,634.28, compared with Monday's close of 1,637.68.
The index had initially opened 0.75 of-a-point higher at 1,638.43 and moved within a range of 1,632.85 to 1,638.43 during the session.
On the broader market, decliners outpaced gainers 494 to 325, while 490 counters were unchanged, 1,080 untraded, and 43 suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.33 billion units worth RM822.07 million.
Rakuten Trade Research said Wall Street closed broadly lower fueled by tech stocks as uncertainties loom over Trump's economic policy and tariffs.
Meanwhile, the firm said the US 10-year yield continues to stay elevated at 4.631 per cent.
"Back home, the FBM KLCI managed to close higher to almost the 1,630 mark underpinned by stock accumulation across the board."
"We believe the index may end 2024 on a higher note with the 1,650 levels as the immediate resistance. "As such, we anticipate the benchmark index to hover within the 1,630- 1,640 range today," it said in a note.
Among heavyweights, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd added one sen to RM8.16, IHH Healthcare Bhd rose two sen to RM7.25, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd put on five sen to RM5.15, while Hong Leong Bank Bhd and Press Metal Aluminium Bhd were flat at RM20.42 and RM4.89, respectively.
On active stocks, MUI Properties Bhd gave up six sen to 37.5 sen, Velocity Capital Bhd edged up half-a-sen to 4.5 sen, Harvest Miracle Capital Bhd advanced 1.5 sen to 15.5 sen, and Microlink went up 2.5 sen to 24 sen. Ends