KUALA LUMPUR: Amid the growing uncertainty, investors were quick to take profit from the local market, erasing gains made earlier in the day.

       However, energy and plantation counters remained positive in light of the surging commodity prices.

       At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was down 2.49 points to 1,593.95 as the growing tensions over the the Ukraine crisis and uncertainty over US Federal Reserve interest rate hikes sent investors to the sidelines.

       CIMB extended its fall for a second straight day as investors reacted negative to provisions made. The bank counter fell 25 sen to RM5.04.

       In Petronas-related stocks, Petronas Chemicals continued its advance with a 14 sen gain to RM9.74 while Petronas Gas climbed 20 sne to RM17.40.

       Press Metal leapt 16 sen to RM6.95.

       Plantations were also up on rising CPO prices, led by Kuala Lumpur Kepong gaining 86 sen to RM26.90 while Sime Darby Plantation added 14 sen to RM5.05.

       Among actives, SMTrack was up 0.5 sen to 23 sen, Hibiscus fell one sen to RM1.21 and DNeX gained one sen to RM1.13.

       In Asian markets, equities prices remained submerged amid growing efforts by Russia to penetrate Ukrainian defences.

       Japan's Nikkei lost 1.9% while South Korea's Kospi bounced 0.15% and Shanghai's composite index fell 0.4%.

       Hong Kong's Hang Sneg shed 1.1% while Australia's ASX rose 0.1%.