Malaysian stocks ended lower on Friday led by losses in top lender Maybank while shares of smaller firms attracted buying interest.
The benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index eased 0.16 percent to 883.09 points, tracking the fall in regional markets which were unnerved by the worsening security situation in Iraq.
Shares of Malayan Banking, the main index's biggest component, fell 1.8 percent to 10.90 ringgit, while phone firm Telekom Malaysia was down one percent to 10.20 ringgit. "It's a pretty quiet day.
Small investors were mostly active today, which is why second liners are moving," said a dealer with Kuala Lumpur City Securities.
Shares of property developer Mah Sing Group was the most actively traded with 1.4 million shares. The stock rose 2.4 percent to 1.74 ringgit over its reference price as ex-rights trading started.
The firm, which is listed on the exchange's second board, recently attracted interest after it announced the purchase of a piece of land for 104.7 million ringgit.
Shares of postal services firm Pos Malaysia & Services Holdings were also heavily traded, as they gained 7.5 percent to 2.16 ringgit.
Dealers said they did not know the reason for the stock's rise.
Shares of construction firm Sumatec Resources rose as much as 9.0 percent to 2.34 ringgit after it won a 146 million ringgit ($38.4 million) contract to build an industrial waste treatment plant.
The firm, which specialises in works for the oil and gas industry, said on Thursday it would build a plant that will handle 40,000 tonnes of hazardous waste, in south-western Negeri Sembilan State.
The stock ended 3.3 percent up at 2.22 ringgit. Shares of Malaysian Plantations (MPlant), parent of lender Alliance Bank, continued to be actively traded.
The stock rose 2.8 percent to 2.21 ringgit.
Three shareholders that collectively hold 10.2 percent in MPlant have recently asked for a shareholder' meeting to oust six directors and appoint two new directors.
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