KUALA LUMPUR: The market managed to pare part of its early losses within the first hour of trade on April 29, on some buying support of key index-linked counters but plantations fell.

At 10am, the KLCI was down 6.18 points to 959.52, off the early low of 952.37. Turnover was 252.97 million shares valued at RM183.35 million. There were 110 gainers, 196 gainers and 145 stocks unchanged.

Light crude oil fell 50 cents to US$49.42.

Among key Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index opened 1.5% higher at 14,767.92 and Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.5% to 2,413.33 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.76% to 1,822.22. Japan was closed.

At Bursa, plantations were among the major losers, with Glenealy and Asiatic down 12 sen each to RM3.30 and RM4.76 while KL Kepong and United Plantations lost 10 sen each to RM11.30 and RM10.50.

Ewein was the top loser, down 17 sen to 79 sen, Ta Ann fell 16 sen to RM3.08 while EON Cap shed 12 sen to RM3.40.

However, PIE Industrial rose 16 sen to RM4.12 with 5,000 shares after it proposed 23 sen special dividend and 12 sen first and final dividend for FY ended Dec 31, 2008.

KNM was the most active with 24.17 million shares done. It was unchanged at 52.5 sen. Ramunia was flat at 59.5 sen and Ramunia-WA rose 1.5 sen to 35.5 sen.

UBG added 14 sen to RM2.70, Deleum rose six sen to RM1.24 and Proton also six sen higher at RM2.78.