KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI turned lower on Friday as it looked set to end the week caught within a tight range-bound motion.

       At 12.30pm, the key index was down 4.29 points to 1,516.53 amid a range of negative catalysts, including the record levels of daily new Covid infections, a planned cut to the economic growth forecast and mounting political uncertainty.

       Over the course of the week, the market has traded within the 1,509-1,525 range.

       "The technical indicators remain mixed as the MACD histogram has extended a green bar while the RSI hovered above the 30 level.

       "Investors may monitor the resistance level set at 1,525-1,548 while the suport level remains at 1,500," said Malacca Securities Research.

       Investors pulled some profit out of glove stocks after a surge in buying interest yesterday on the back of rising global Covid cases.

       Sector leaders Top Glove fell nine sen to RM3.95 and Hartalega dropped 27 sen to RM7.37.

       The tech sector, which had surged over the previous two sessions, also slipped as gobal tech counters were routed following heavy profit-taking in Taiwan's TSMC.

       Bursa Malaysia's technology index was led lower by KESM down 28 sen to RM11.30, Genetec sliding 24 sen to RM17.96 and Vitrox down 14 sen to RM5.82.

       In healthcare, Pharmaniaga shed 14 sen to 90 sen in heavy trading after the government announced its plans to focus on the Pfizer vaccine over Sinovac.

       Of actives, Dnex was up 2.5 sen to 74 sen, Serba Dinamik was unchanged at 45.5 sen and Kanger rose one sen to eight sen.

       In Aisa, markets were dampened by the tech rout. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.9% and South Korea's Kospi slid 0.6%

       China's main index was unchanged after bouncing higher at noon while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.45%. Australia's AXS200 added 0.1%.