KUALA LUMPUR: Following a stady climb in the previous session, Bursa Malaysia could be due for a breather as investors digest the market's recent gains.

       The FBM KLCI jumped yesterday to closed at an intraday high for a second straight session as plantation counters were lifted by a surge in crude palm oil price to above RM4,800.

       At 9.10am, the key index was down 4.96 points to 1,554.46 as investors took profit amid an absence of fresh leads.

       Although there is profit-taking in the immediate term, the positive sentiment could be extended on the market given recent domestic developments.

       "The market sentiment may remain positive bias with both the Johor and Pahang states moving into the next phase of the NRP starting from 8th of October, while the vaccination rate of the adult population stood at 88.4%," said Malacca Securities Research in a note.

       There could remain upsides in plantation plays as CPO prices were seen rallying higher to a fresh record high of RM5,067 at yesterday's close.

       Brent crude retraced lower from US$83 a barrel but remained afloat of US$81 a barrel.

       On the blue-chip FBM KLCI Sime Darby Plantation slid nine sen to RM4.11 after having yesterday led the plantations rally.

       IOI Corp was also down 10 sen to RM3.98 but Kuala Lumpur Kepong defied gravity to rise 20 sen to RM22.10.

       Meanwhile, banks also dipped, led by Maybank down four sen to RM8.04, CIMB falling two sen to RM4.80 and Hong Leong Bank sliding 16 sen to RM18.84.

       Of actives on Bursa, SYF plunged six sen to 36.5 sen, SC Estate Builder was up two sen to 14 sen and Sin Heng Chan gained 0.5 sen to 62 sen.