PETALING JAYA: Bursa Malaysia closed lower yesterday due to profit-taking activities, mainly in banking, oil and gas, and telecommunication counters despite the positive regional market performance, a dealer said.

       At 5pm, the benchmark FBM KLCI slipped 11.84 points to 1,596.44 from 1,608.28 at Monday’s close after opening 0.28 of-a-point better at 1,608.56.

       The key index fluctuated between 1,593.57 and 1,620.44 throughout the trading session.

       The overall market breadth was negative with decliners trouncing advancers 566 to 404, while 424 counters were unchanged, 853 untraded and 18 others suspended.

       Total turnover fell to 3.21 billion units worth RM3.25bil against Monday’s 3.47 billion units worth RM3.97bil.

       Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said key regional markets ended higher as investors were relieved after the completion of the first round of Russia-Ukraine talks. — Bernama