KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI closed marginally below the psychological level of 1,600 points for the second straight day, amid declines in most regional markets.

       At 5pm, the benchmark index rose 1.09 points to 1,598.97. The index had earlier inched higher to 1,601.16.

       Gainers led losers by 482 to 429, while 434 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 2.7 billion shares valued at RM2.11bil.

       Despite the gain, 14 constituent counters closed lower, outnumbering 11 gainers losers and five unchanged counters.

       Among the KLCI-component stocks, Nestle added 60 sen to RM136, Petronas Dagangan rose 44 sen to RM21.94, Genting Malaysia added eight sen to RM2.95 and Petronas Gas climbed eight sen to RM16.84.

       Telekom Malaysia and Hong Leong Bank fell 10 sen each to RM4.85 and RM20.40 respectively.

       On the broader market, Malaysian Pacific Industries fell 42 sen to RM37.58, Batu Kawan lost 20 sen to RM26.12 and Southern Acids shed 14 sen to RM3.95

       Elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.25%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.94%, South Korea’s Kospi closed down 0.2%, China’s CSI300 fell 0.59% and Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.99%.