Malaysia leads regional loss; weak results hit shares

February 06, 2013

BANGKOK, Feb 6 — Malaysia's main index hit a two-month closing low on Wednesday as weak quarterly results weighed on shares such as Digi.Com Bhd while most other Southeast Asian stocks ended off their day's highs amid profit taking in recent gainers.

Kuala Lumpur's Composite Index fell 1.2 per cent to 1,614.14, the lowest close since Dec. 5, led by a 5.3 per cent drop in Digi shares.

The telecoms firm reported a fall in fourth-quarter earnings after market hours.

Malaysia was Southeast Asia's worst performer with a year-to-date loss of 4.4 percent.

Retail and foreign investors were net sellers worth $37.23 million and $21.05 million, respectively, the Malaysian bourse said.

Bangkok's SET index was down 0.4 percent at 1,500.35, extending losses for a second session.

The Philippine index eased 0.6 percent to 6,431.35 after Tuesday's record close of 6,470.49. Singapore's Strait Times Index edged up 0.12 per cent to 3,276.53, paring some early gains, weighed by a 3.8 per cent fall in SIA Engineering Co Ltd after it reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings.

Outperforming the region, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange's VN Index posted its biggest rise in more than a week, up 2.3 per cent at 488.36, on a positive economic outlook and low valuations, analysts said. — Reuters