KUALA LUMPUR: Uncertainty about the strength of the global economic recovery dragged key Asian markets into the red at the midday break on Thursday, Nov 12. At Bursa Malaysia, banks and Sime Darby were among the decliners.

The markets were volatile as investors used the excuse of economic uncertainty to take money off the table.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 6.21 points to 1,263.94. Turnover was 472 million shares valued at RM574 million. There were two decliners for each advancer, with 346 losers, 185 gainers and 237 stocks unchanged.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.23% to 9,849.18, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.5% to 22,516.03 and Singapore's Straits Times Index slipped 0.4% to 2,729.83. Shanghai's Composite Index rose 0.64% to 3,195.36.

Year-to-date the Nikkei 225 is up 11.17%, the Hang Seng Index 56.7% and Singapore's STI 55.1%.

Light crude oil fell three US cents to US$79.24 but crude palm oil futures rose RM25 to RM2,280. US spot gold rose US$1.95 to US$1,119.35.

At Bursa, CIMB fell the most, easing 28 sen to RM12.74. EON Cap was 20 sen lower at RM5.76 while Hong Leong Bank shed 13 sen to RM8.22. Heavyweight Sime lost 14 sen to RM8.94.

Glove maker Hartalega fell 14 sen to RM5.47 but Adventa added 20 sen to RM2.15 after CIMB Researh upgraded the stock.

Shoe maker XiDeLang, which was listed yesterday, fell 5.5 sen to 57.5 sen in active trade. Its offer price under the listing exercise was 58 sen.

Sinaria was the most active, rising 0.5 sen to 56.5 sen with 36 million shares done.

F&N rose the most, adding 30 sen to RM11.30 while Tanjong and KPJ added 12 sen each to RM16.42 and RM4.84. Mudajaya's stronger earnings saw its shares rising 20 sen to RM4.30.

Jetson attracted speculative interest again, with its shares up 20 sen to RM2.87, its loan stocks up 20 sen to RM2.60 and its warrants gaining 13 sen to RM1.96.