KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed lower for the fourth straight session, dampened by across-the-board selling.

       The FBM KLCI closed down 1.12 points, or 0.07% to 1,583.08. The index moved between 1,591.64and 1,581.76 throughout the day.

       Broader market sentiment continued to be weak, with 632 losers outpacing 386 gainers and 420 counters which traded unchanged. Turnover was at 4.01 billion shares valued at RM2.5bil.

       Dealers believe bargain hunting activities may surface and expect trading to remain lacklustre ahead of the tabling of Budget 2022.

       At Bursa Malaysia, MPI jumped 60 sen to RM46.10, Petronas Dagangan surged 56 sen to RM20.60, Hong Leong Financial Group rose 26 sen to RM18.50 and PMB Technology added 26 sen to RM18.50.

       Genetec was the top loser, shedding RM1.48 to RM45.92, F&N lost RM1.10 to RM27.20 and SAM Engineering fell 48 sen to RM21.70.

       Among the heavyweights, Maybank climbed one sen to RM8.13, Public Bank closed unchanged at RM4.23, Tenaga dropped one sen to RM9.70, Genting added eight sen to RM5.20 and MISC rose 13 sen to RM7.14.

       Meanwhile, oil prices fell on Wednesday after data showed crude oil stockpiles rose more than expected.

       Brent oil futures fell 98 cents, or 1.13%, to US$85.42 a barrel while the US West Texas Intermediate declined US$1.31, or 1.55%, to $83.34 per barrel.

       On the external front, Japan’s Nikkei declined 0.03% to 29,098.24 while South Korea’s Kospi ended down 23.59 points, or 0.77%, at 3,025.49.

       China’s CSI300 index ended down 1.3% to 4,898.16, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 1% to 3,562.31 points.

       Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 1.57% to 25,628.74 points.