KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI closed at the day’s low on Tuesday, weighed down by losses in Press Metal and Top Glove amid weak sentiment.

       At 5pm, the key index closed down 7.48 points to 1,597.13, its intraday low.

       The market breadth remained overwhelmingly negative with 578 decliners versus 340 gainers. Turnover was 3.9 billion shares valued at RM2.43bil.

       Dealers said the selling on Bursa Malaysia was broad-based. They said investors are likely to remain optimistic on the recovery theme, focusing on recovery sectors such as construction, banking and consumer.

       The KLCI-component stocks were overwhelmingly negative, with 21 losers and four gainers while five closed unchanged.

       Press Metal lost 14 sen to RM6.42, dragging the index lower by 1.7252 points. Top Glove shed 10 sen to RM1.81, pushing the index 1.2274 points lower.

       Hong Leong Financial Group fell 22 sen to RM19.28, Hong Leong Bank eased eight sen to RM20.42, Hartalega lost six sen to RM4.71 and Digi declined five sen to RM3.85.

       Kuala Lumpur Kepong added 20 sen to RM27.20, Petronas Chemicals rose six sen to RM10.26 and PPB gained four sen to RM17.32.

       On the broader market, Harrisons jumped 35 sen to RM5.23, BLD Plantation rose 19 sen to RM9.20 and Complete Logistic added 17 sen to RM4.48.

       Malaysian Pacific Industries tumbled 74 sen to RM32.34, Heineken Malaysia lost 36 sen to RM24.34 and Transocean fell 26 sen to RM2.56.

       Meanwhile, the ringgit was quoted at 4.2327, down 0.05% against the US dollar.

       US West Texas Intermediate crude rose US$3.25 to US$97.54 and Brent added US$3.48 to US$101.96 per barrel.