KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI extended its decline with more counters falling to negative territory as the day crept closer to Bank Negara's overnight policy rate (OPR) announcement.

       At 12.30pm, the country's key index was down 13.32 points to 1,584.31. Market breadth turned decidedly negative with 656 decliners compared to 289 gainers and 417 counters unchanged.

       While IHH Healthcare jumped 27 sen to RM6.67 to offset some of the losses, the overwhelming number of blue chips dragged on the index.

       MISC gave up 33 sen to RM6.97 while Petronas Gas lost 40 sen to RM16.70.

       Bank counters turned wobbly with Public Bank sliding four sen to RM4.11, CIMB dropping 10 sen to RM4.84, Hong Leong Bank losing two sen to RM18.90 and Maybank edging one sen lower to RM8.30.

       Glove counters continued their downtrend as Top Glove dropped 15 sen to RM3.43 while Hartalega extended its retreat by 23 sen to RM6.45.

       Among laggards on the broader market, MPI fell 94 sen to RM45.36, F&N shed 44 sen to RM27 and Westports dropped 31 sen to RM4.43.

       Top actives were Kanger down 0.5 sen to 5.5 sen, KNM fell 0.5 sen to 26 sen and Joe was unchanged at five sen.

       Other regional markets were also on the backfoot as investors worried about slowing global growth and the potential tapering of central bank stimulus as the European Central Bank is expected to take a step back in economic support.

       Japan's Nikkei backed away from six-month highs after falling 0.8% and South Korea's Kospi slid 1.3%.

       China's main index held firm with a 0.1% gain while Hong Kong's Hang Seng skidded 1.6%. Australia's ASX200 was 1.% in the red.