KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank, Genting and CIMB fell at the midday break on Tuesday, Feb 9 as investors sold banks on worries of more downside while key regional markets managed to show some recovery after Monday's sell-down.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was down 7.62 points to 1,227.6. Turnover was 364 million shares valued at RM649.13 million. Declining stocks beat advancers 470 to 102 while 217 stocks were unchanged.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 9,932.35 but Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index managed to inch up 0.18% to 19,586.19 and Shanghai's Composite Index added 0.16% to 2,939.75 and Singapore's Straits Times Index added 0.35% to 2,703.1. However, Jakarta's Composite Index fell 1.15% to 2,447.09 and Thailand's SET 0.83% lower at 682.37.

Light crude oil fell 22 cents to US$71.67 but US spot gold added RM4.90 to US$1,067.75 and crude palm oil futures gained RM4 to RM2,549.

Analysts said banks were oversold currently but the bearish sentiment did impact investors' decision on worries that the market could slip further.

Public Bank-foreign fell 32 sen to RM10.94, Public Bank 22 sen to RM10.98 while CIMB and Hong Leong Bank gave up 10 sen each to RM12.12 and RM7.80 and Maybank two sen to RM6.70. However, AMMB rose five sen to RM4.66.

UMW lost 13 sen to RM5.92, Genting Bhd fell 17 sen to RM6.55, Axiata four sen to RM3.25, Genting Malaysia three sen to RM2.72.

Talam was the most active with 16.9 million shares done, unchanged at 11.5 sen.

Bonia was the top gainer, rising six sen to RM1.05 with 1,000 shares done, Bernas and Mieco five sen higher at RM1.90 and 57 sen.