The stock market movement ended lower in choppy trading as persistent selling pressure outweighed selective buying interest in heavyweight counters, keeping the broader market in negative territory.
Market breadth stayed weak through the session, with decliners leading gainers 639 to 426. A total of 507 counters were unchanged, while 1,069 were untraded and 15 were suspended.
Downward movement was led by healthcare and technology-linked stocks, with Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd sliding 94 sen to RM32.06. Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd also eased 94 sen to RM48.06, while UMS Integration Limited fell 39 sen to RM8.10.
Broader tech sentiment remained under pressure as Kelington Group Bhd declined 27 sen to RM7.98 despite heavy turnover of 2.5 million shares, while Vitrox Corporation Bhd slipped 17 sen to RM7.72 on active trading.
Despite the softer tone, selective accumulation in defensive and index-linked counters provided pockets of support. United Plantations Bhd led the upside, rising 50 sen to RM33.48.
Nestle (M) Bhd advanced 24 sen to RM92, while PPB Group Bhd added 17 sen to RM9.33. Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd gained 16 sen to RM28.10 and Telekom Malaysia Bhd edged up 14 sen to RM7.47 amid sustained trading interest.
Trading patterns pointed to continued rotation into defensive blue chips, particularly telecom and consumer-linked names, even as broader mid-cap and growth counters faced sustained selling pressure.
Market activity remained concentrated in selected liquid counters, reflecting a cautious tone and preference for stock-specific positioning rather than broad market exposure.
