KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FBM KLCI slid over morning trade as profit-taking set in following weak Chinese economic data that took the shine off recent optimism over the regional economy.

At 12.30pm, the key index was down 5.36 points to 1,457.34.

There market breadth was sharply negative with 618 decliners compared with 260 gainers. There were 2.47 billion shares traded valued at RM1.22bil.

Asian equities retreated on Tuesday following the release of disappointing growth in China’s services activity in August.

China’s main index dropped 0.6% to 3,157 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.5% to 18,559.

Japan’s Nikkei shed 0.1% to 32,914 and South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.1% to 2,582.

Among bank counters, Public Bank dropped two sen to RM4.26 and CIMB fell four sen to RM5.67 while RHB slid two sen to RM5.66.

Plantation counters also declined including Sime Darby Plantation falling seven sen to RM4.37, Kuala Lumpur Kepong dropping 14 sen to RM21.24 and IOI falling two sen to RM4.01.

Investors were more positive on consumer stocks as Nestle gained 80 sen to RM130 and Dutch Lady rose 16 sen to RM22.46.

AirAsia X surged 17 sen to RM2.42.

Top actives of the day included Classita up 0.5 sen to eight sen, Ekovest diving 4.5 sen to 51.5 sen and MRCB dropping three sen to 45.5 sen.