KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended lower on Tuesday despite the broader-market breadth indicating most stocks are gaining ground.

       The benchmark index closed down 2.13 points, or 0.13% to 1,596.79 after moving between 1,601.68 and 1,594.41 throughout the day.

       Broader market sentiment was positive, with 635 gainers outpacing 308 losers and 416 counters which traded unchanged.

       Activities were encouraging with 3.87 billion shares worth RM2.36bil changed hands.

       Dealers said market breadth was still positive despite a pullback in the key index as investors were taking some profit-taking.

       In today’s session, 13 of the KLCI-component stocks closed lower while 12 counters chalked up gains.

       Nestle tumbled RM2.20 to RM134.80, Maybank shed 10 sen to RM8.86, Hong Leong Bank lost 10 sen to RM20.10 and Digi declined nine sen to RM3.88.

       PPB group rose 16 sen to RM17.20, MISC added 15 sen to RM7.47, Petronas Chemicals gained 15 sen to RM9.85 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong advanced 14 sen to RM26.

       On the broader market, Aeon Credit fell 40 sen to RM15.30, PMB Technology lost 36 sen to RM18.26 and Bintulu Port eased 15 sen to RM5.

       Transocean, which hit limit up, jumped 63 sen to RM2.75. MPI gained 60 sen to RM37.12 and Litrak added 52 sen to RM4.55.

       Meanwhile, the ringgit was quoted at 4.2112, up 0.21% against the US dollar.

       US light crude oil rose 93 cents to US$104.21 and Brent lost US$1.01 to US$108.54 per barrel.