KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended easier today as investors locked in profits in key heavyweights, particularly finance counters, after the recent sharp gains, dealers said.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) closed 5.4 points lower at 1,435.67, dragged down by losses mostly in Genting, Sime Darby and Telekom.

The key index had opened 1.02 points lower at 1,440.05.

The recent sharp gains in the benchmark index was boosted by the rally in finance stocks, a dealer said.

The Finance Index increased 7.84 points to 12,957.67 and the Plantation Index gained 18.61 points to 6,661.11 but the Industrial Index fell 4.46 points to 2,766.34.

The FBM Emas Index meanwhile, slipped 13.95 points to 9,584.79, the FBM70 Index advanced 47.52 points to 9,377.18 and the FBM ACE index rose 32.93 points to 3,749.36.

Turnover declined to 922.100 million shares worth RM1.718 billion compared to Thursday’s 1.075 billion shares valued at RM1.87 billion.

Advancers outnumbered decliners by 394 to 325 while 291 counters were unchanged, 352 untraded and 35 others suspended.

Among heavyweights, Maybank fell five sen to RM8.45, CIMB rose nine sen to RM7.89, Sime Darby declined 14 sen to RM8.28, Maxis rose one sen to RM5.38 and Genting lost 26 sen to RM9.22.

For the actives, KNM increased half sen to 41.5 sen, Malaysian Resources gained 11 sen to RM1.87, JCY International added eight sen to RM1.13 and UEM Land rose seven sen to RM1.91.

The Main Market volume declined to 780.990 million shares worth RM1.695 billion from the 931.991 million shares valued at RM1.846 billion yesterday.

Warrants rose to 86.233 million units valued at RM11.108 million from the 78.406 million units worth RM11.433 million yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE market slipped to 48.624 million shares worth RM7.457 million from 54.841 million shares valued at RM8.503 million previously.    

Consumer products accounted for 42.161 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 124.226 million, construction 101.883 million, trade and services 216.418 million, technology 59.46 million, infrastructure 27.816 million, finance 59.525 million, hotels 847,500, properties 117.072 million, plantations 17.841 million, mining 70,000, REITs 13.603 million and closed/fund 67,500. — Bernama