KUALA LUMPUR: Blue chips struggled to keep the 30-stock FBM KLCI in positive territory at the midday break on Thursday, Nov 19, after a volatile session but, the relisting of Maxis helped shore up investors' sentiment.

The broader market was weaker on more profit taking, with declining counters beating advancers two to one.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI rose just 0.35 of a point to 1,275.45. There were 191 gainers, 375 losers and 240 stocks unchanged.

Turnover was skewed by Maxis and Scomi loan stocks,which when combined, accounted for nearly 410 million units or almost half of trading volume. Turnover was 849.4 million shares valued at RM1.75 billion.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 1.43% to 9,538.63, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index shed 0.5% to 22,719.15 and Shanghai's Composite Index slipped just 0.09% to 3,300.38.

Singapore's Straits Times Index bucked the lacklustre key Asian markets, rising 1% to 2,772.52 after the government said the economy grew 14.2% in the third quarter on a seasonally adjusted annualised basis.

Light crude oil slipped 16 US cents to US$79.42, US spot gold was down US$4.20 to US$1,1451.30 and crude palm oil futures eased RM2 to RM2,398.

Maxis was the top performer, adding 40 sen to RM5.40 with 204 million units done. Tanjong added 38 sen to RM16.80, Top Glove 25 sen to RM8.97 and KL Kepong 20 sen to RM15.80.  Mudajaya gained 16 sen to RM4.64 and EON Cap 13 sen to RM6.03.

Most of the top 10 active stocks were warrants. Scomi-LR fell 1.5 sen to one sen and it was the second most active with 206.6 million units done.

Parkson fell 15 sen to RM5.10, F&N and LPI shed 10 sen each to RM2.77 and RM12.60 while SP Setia eased nine sen to RM3.70 and RHB Cap eight sen to RM5.39. Jetson eased 11 sen to RM2.77.