27/09/2012 (The Star) - Worries about global economic growth prospects and uncertainties about the impact of the stimulus measures saw European and key Asian markets extending their losses on Wednesday.

Oil, commodities including crude palm oil to soybeans fell.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 2.03% while Spain and Greece's key market indices recorded losses of 2.25% and 2.15%.

At the close, the FBM KLCI was up 0.72 of a point or a marginal 0.04% to 1,619.30, boosted mainly by DiGi. Turnover was 889.36 million shares valued at RM1.45bil. There were 283 gainers, 374 losers and 342 counters unchanged.

Bloomberg reported that stocks slid, the euro weakened and oil dropped for a third day after Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Charles Plosser said on Tuesday more bond purchases probably won't boost growth. Spanish bonds fell, with the 10-year yield approaching 6%.

Among the key regional markets, the Nikkei 225 fell 2.03% to 8,906.70; Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.83% to 20,527.73; Shanghai's Composite Index lost 1.24% to 2,004.17; Taiwan's Taiex was down 0.83% to 7,669.63 and South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.55% to 1,980.44. Singapore's Straits Times Index declined 0.67% to 3,046.68.

US light crude oil fell 62 cents to US$90.75 and Brent 81 cents lower at US$109.64 but spot gold gained US$2.67 to US$1,763.31.

The Philippine peso and Malaysia's ringgit led declines in Asian currencies on concern an export slump in the region will worsen amid a global economic slowdown, according to Bloomberg.

The ringgit weakened against the US dollar to 3.0820 from the previous close of 3.0703.

At Bursa Malaysia, DiGi rose 12 sen to RM5.12, pushing the KLCI up 2.17 points, TM added eight sen to RM6.03, Axiata four sen to RM6.34 and Maxis two sen to RM6.80.

PetGas added 10 sen to RM18.80 while banks recovered, with CIMB and Public Bank adding two sen each to RM7.38 and RM14.28 while HL Bank and RHB Capital rose two sen each to RM13.26 amd RM7.15.

Crude palm oil for third-month futures fell RM54 to RM2,615. Diversified conglomerate Sime Darby rose three sen to RM9.79 but KLK fell 14 sen to RM22.06, PPB Group 10 sen to RM12.10 and IOI Corp five sen to RM5.

Nestle rose the most, up 20 sen to RM60.70, Dutch Lady added 12 sen to RM42.30 but Carlsberg fell 16 sen to RM11.22.

Small caps and penny stocks were among the major gainers but in thin trade. Rex rose 15 sen to 80.5 sen, Rapid 12 sen to RM2.57, Johor Tin 11 sen to RM2.13 and The Store 10 sen higher to RM2.20.

Ingenuity Solutions was the most active with 82.65 million shares done, adding 0.5 sen to 10 sen while its warrants added one sen to 6.5 sen.

IJM fell 22 sen to RM4.53 with 30.24 million shares done over the negative perception to its purchase of a 25.08% stake in Scomi Group for RM149.3mil cash. Scomi lost 0.5 sen to 37.5 sen.

AirAsia fell two sen to RM2.85 with 19.91 million shares done.