Bursa Malaysia remained in negative territory at midday on Aug 11, with the benchmark index down 0.47% as weakness in financial services, utilities and plantation counters dragged on the market.
At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 8.21 points to 1,727.16 from its close of 1,735.37, after trading between 1,725.48 and 1,738.21.
The weakness extended across the broader market, with the FBM 70 slipping 32.28 points (0.18%) to 18,341.10, while the F4GBM falling 4.30 points (0.41%) to 1,039.81.
The FBM Emas declined 48.10 points (0.37%) to 12,820.37, while the FBM Shariah dropped 55.82 points (0.44%) to 12,659.69.
The broader market was also weaker, with losers outpacing gainers 593 to 415, while 527 counters were unchanged. Turnover stood at 1.9 billion shares worth RM1.42 billion.
Among the major decliners, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd dropped 72 sen to RM47.26, United Plantations Bhd fell 38 sen to RM33.50 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd slipped 28 sen to RM21.56.
Petronas Dagangan Bhd declined 26 sen to RM19.08, while Tenaga Nasional Bhd shed 14 sen to RM14.26.
Buckling the weaker trend, Nestlé (M) Bhd was the top gainer, rising RM1.90 to RM101.50. SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd gained 24 sen to RM4.57, while Greatech Technology Bhd advanced 12 sen to RM2.73.
Meanwhile, Steel Hawk Bhd was the most actively traded counter with 40.5 million shares changing hand despite slipping two sen to 11 sen, followed by NationGate Holdings Bhd at RM1.50 with 30.69 million shares and Zetrix AI Bhd at 69.5 sen on 26.87 million shares.
