KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended lower on Thursday as investors returning from a long weekend pared their positions amid a significant increase of 50 basis points by the Federal Reserve.

       The 30-stock index closed down 17.45 points, or 1.09% to 1,582.98, its lowest since April 18. The index opened 13.91 points higher at 1,614.34 this morning.

       There were 628 gainers, 380 losers and 421 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. Turnover stood at 2.68 billion shares valued at RM2.37bil.

       Dealers expect cautious trading in the next few sessions ahead of Bank Negara's overnight policy rate (OPR) announcement and the release of first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) next week.

       At present, the OPR stood at the lowest level of 1.75%.

       Hengyuan Refining, one of the top gainers, rose 72 sen to RM6.58, Petron Malaysia climbed 48 sen to RM5.98, Carlsberg added 30 sen to RM22.44 and OM Holdings rose 17 sen to RM2.92.

       Nestle is the biggest loser on Bursa Malaysia, falling RM2 to RM131.20, Malaysian Pacific Industries eased 88 sen to RM30.82, F&N lost 80 sen to RM22.20 and Kuala Lumpur Kepong shed 56 sen to RM28.90.

       Meanwhile, the ringgit was quoted at 4.3470, up 0.03% against the US dollar.

       US light crude oil fell 23 cents to US$107.58 and Brent lost two cents to US$110.12 per barrel.

       Markets in Japan and South Korea were closed for public holidays.

       MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares ex-Japan rose 0.43%.

       Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 0.36% to 20,793.40.

       China’s CSI300 index fell 0.2% to 4,010.21 while Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.7% higher at 3,067.76.