KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended flat today but the broader market was lower as profit-takers triumphed over bargain-hunters.

       At 5pm, the benchmark index finished at 1,555.26, down a negligible 0.25 of-a-point. The index opened 0.65 of-a-point lower at 1,554.86 this morning and moved between 1,560.56 and 1,549.65 throughout the day.

       Turnover stood at 4.49 billion shares valued at RM3.06bil. There were 492 gainers against 519 losers while 445 counters were unchanged.

       Dealers said market sentiment may remain cautious as investors will be closely watching the possible interest rate exemption for loan moratorium repayments.

       Genetec topped the gainers’ list on Bursa Malaysia. The counter surged RM1.98 to RM35.18. Tafi added 25 sen to RM2.94, Kelington gained 25 sen to RM2.94, Ancom advanced 18 sen to RM1.72 and Unisem climbed 18 sen to RM8.50.

       Press Metal rose 16 sen to RM5.74 and Ann Joo gained 14 sen to RM2.79.

       On the other hand, F&N fell 48 sen to RM27.04, Carlsberg shed 44 sen to RM22.36 and Panasonic Manufacturing declined 28 sen to RM30.38.

       Among the banks, Maybank closed unchanged at RM8.29, Public Bank climbed one sen to RM4.01, CIMB added two sen to RM4.80, RHB Bank rose three sen to RM5.38 and Hong Leong Bank jumped 32 sen to RM18.78.

       Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be closed tomorrow in conjunction with Malaysia Day. It will resume operations on Friday.

       Elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Nikkei was down 0.52% at 30,511.71, China’s CSI300 index fell 1.01% to 4,867.32 points and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed down 1.84% to 25,033.21. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.15% to 3,153.40.