Asian markets in the red, KLCI down 10 points at midday (Update)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips fell at midday on Thursday, but the decline was less serious compared with key Asian markets where their key indices fell up to 2.5%, as sentiment took a hit from the latest batch of negative news China.
At 12.30pm, the KLCI slid 10.13 points or 0.57% to 1,762.75. Turnover was 840.37 million valued at RM760.864. The broader market was weak, with decliners beating advancers nearly six to one, with 589 losers to 104 gainers while 221 were unchanged.
Asian shares tumbled to nine-month lows on Thursday as slowing Chinese manufacturing activity exacerbated sentiment already unnerved by the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke confirming the Fed would begin reducing its stimulus spending later this year.
At Bursa Malaysia, Maybank fell 14 sen to RM10.28, CIMB nine sen to RM8.20, HL Cap 19 sen to RM6.75, Public Bank four sen to RM16.96 and HLFG eight sen to RM14.08 but RHB Cap rose one sen to RM8.61.
BAT fell 50 sen to RM61.10 but Bonia rose 10 sen to RM2.45, Dutch Lady 26 sen to RM47.80 and F&N eight sen to RM18.72.
Crude palm oil rose RM13 to RM2485 but IOI fell nine sen to RM5.29, Sime Darby seven sen to RM9.49 and FGV one sen to RM4.52 but PPB rose four sen to RM13.76.
PetGas fell 16 sen to RM20.92.
The ringgit weakened against the dollar at 3.2030 against the previous close of 3.1515.
Among the key regional markets,
Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.17% to 13,090.38;
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 2.52% to 20,458.17;
Shanghai's Composite Index fell 1.41% to 2,113.03;
Taiwan's Taiex fell 1.42% to 7,893.95;
South Korea's Kospi fell 2.15% to 1,847.62;
Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 2.05% to 3,147.91
US light crude oil fell US$1.49 to US$96.75.
Brent fell US$1.47 to US$104.65
Spot gold fell US$7.45 to US$1,343.86



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