DANAVEST

by Surin Murugiah

PETALING JAYA: Asian stock markets, including the Bursa Malaysia fell this morning after the overnight plunge at Wall Street where the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost almost 3% on weaker retail sales report and unemployment data.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 6.56 points at mid-morning to 1,078.50 points. Trading volume was 53.17 million shares valued at RM97.99 million. Losers led gainers by 223 to 35, while 100 counters traded unchanged.

At the regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 2.54% to 12,238.61 points, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index down 2.88% to 19,801.42 points and the Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.6% to 2,218.18 points.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 2.06% to 2,571.89 and the South Korean Kospi lost 1.36% to 1,407.07 points.

Leading the losers at Bursa Malaysia was British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd that fell 50 sen to RM39.75, followed by Tasek Corporation Bhd which shed 30 sen to RM3.50.

Putrajaya Perdana Bhd fell 22 sen to RM4.64, Asiatic Development Bhd down 15 sen to RM5.30, Sarawak Plantation Bhd fell 14 sen to RM3, while Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd and Kulim (M) Bhd lost 10 sen each to RM11.80 and RM7.20, respectively.

Gainers were led by Batu Kawan Bhd, Genting Bhd and Shell Refining Company (Federation of Malaya) Bhd that rose 10 sen each to RM8.10, RM5.45 and RM10.60, respectively.

Other gainers included Hwa Tai Industries Bhd, PLB Engineering Bhd and Petronas Dagangan Bhd.

Source: The Edge Daily