23/04/2013 (The Star) - Shares of plantation stocks fell in early trade on Tuesday after the weaker crude palm oil (CPO) prices dampened investors' sentiment.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI was down 5.93 points to 1,700.75. Turnover was 100.57 million shares valued at RM134mil. There were 96 gainers, 198 losers and 206 counters unchanged.

KL Kepong fell the most, down 32 sen to RM21.32, Sarawak Oil Palms fell 20 sen to RM5.50 while Far East was down eight sen to RM7.80.

On Monday, CPO for third month delivery closed at RM2,255 per tonne, the lowest since mid-December 2012.

Reuters reported the volatility in commodities markets overall and losses in soybeans weighed, with investors also wary ahead of slowing export demand.

Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for April 1-20 fell 6.4% to 864,206 tonnes from 922,987 tonnes shipped during March 1-20, cargo surveyor Societe Generale de Surveillance said on Monday.