Malaysian shares followed key regional bourses lower on Monday, touching a one-month low before some of its biggest blue chips trimmed losses, with investors unnerved by rocketing oil prices and security fears.
Seven of Malaysia's 10 largest stocks, including top lender Maybank and phone firms Telekom and Maxis, shed between 0.5 and 3.0 percent in market value on fears that record-high oil prices could erode profit margins.
Although Malaysia is a net oil exporter, analysts were also worried that dearer energy costs could slow economic growth among its trading partners, dampening demand for its goods.
"External factors are dominating today," said Ngu Chie Kieng, research head at TA Securities. "Oil is getting really scary and the possibility of further terror attacks in the US are definitely not helping."
The United States declared a "high" security alert over the weekend for top financial firms including Citigroup after intelligence signalled a possible al Qaeda attack. Meanwhile, oil prices were close to $44 per barrel on Monday in Asia.
Malaysia's 100-stock Composite Index, which hit an intraday low of 822.89 points, closed down 0.78 percent at 827.49 points.
Volume was a thin 313 million shares worth 660 million ringgit ($174 million), with decliners thumping gainers by 541 to 165.
Bucking the trend were health products distributor Liqua Health Corp and construction firm Equine Capital, which jumped as much as 11 and 4.0 percent respectively.
Analysts were unsure of the reason for Liqua's rise, attributing it to speculative play by retailers and small share syndicates.
Equine, down 32 percent since the start of this year, gained nearly four percent before trimming gains to finish up 1.1 percent at 90 cents amid persistent speculation it would win the coveted deal to rebuild the Penang Turf Club.
Maxis, the largest mobile phone firm, fell 3.4 percent to 8.50 ringgit, with analysts saying second-quarter earnings were unlikely to exceed the 326 million ringgit ($86 million) it made in the first quarter ended March.
They also blamed the expected fall on gloom in the local mobile phone services sector, which is fast approaching maturity and forcing firms into price wars to expand market share.
Shares in main rival Telekom fell one percent to 10.20 ringgit.
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