KUALA LUMPUR: Despite opening higher at the start of the opening bell, the FBM KLCI succumbed to profit taking activities.

       At 5pm, the FBM KLCI closed down 1.83 points, or 0.13% at 1,396.23. The index hit an intraday high of 1,401.76.

       Market breadth remained positive as gainers overpowered the losers on a ratio of 517-to-377stocks. Traded volumes stood at 2.93 billion valued at RM1.78bil as investors locked-in recent gains.

       In terms of fund flows, local institutions and retailers were net sellers on Wednesday offloading equities worth RM40mil and RM44mil respectively.

       Foreigners emerged as net buyers with total purchases valued at RM84mil.

       Among the losers on Bursa Malaysia, PETRONAS Dagangan slid 64 sen to RM21.76, Hextar Technologies fell 24 sen to RM26.70 and IHH Healthcare eased 18 sen to RM5.77.

       Heineken surged RM1.10 to RM26.60, Dutch Lady rose 70 sen to RM22, Rapid added 36 sen to RM21.78 and Quality Concrete gained 30 sen to RM1.20.

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       Around the region, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific ex-Japan rose 1.85%.

       Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 1.49% higher at 32,419.33 while South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.64%, at 2,591.23.

       Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 2.6%, at 19,350.62.

       CSI300 index rose 1.43% to 3,898.42, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.26% at 3,236.48 points.