Screenshots

The KLCI on Bursa Malaysia shed a further 4.37 points to 1,286.33 at market close today. Losers led gainers by 602 to 276. Volume was thin at 8,374,878 lots.

This is the second trading day after Abdullah Badawi tabled the RM176.9 billion Budget 2008, Malaysia's biggest that tripled that of 1998.

Yesterday, the KLCI shed 14.2 points to 1,290.70 at market close. Losers led gainers by 765 to 186. Intra-day low was 1,281.66.

Ringgit weakens

Meanwhile, the ringgit declined for a third day after U.S. central bank officials indicated the world's biggest economy is slowing, hurting the outlook for Asian exports, Bloomberg reported.

The ringgit traded at 3.5155 against the dollar as of 5:10 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur, compared with 3.5125 late yesterday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

It has weakened 1.3% in the past three months, making it the second-worst performer after a 4.2% loss in the Indonesian rupiah.

Our economy is tied to US growth as Malaysia sends one-fifth of our goods to the U.S., our biggest export market.

Today's buzz in the marketplace and wire agencies is about the Auditor-General's expose of megabucks mismanagement at the ministries run by Najib Abdul Razak and Azalina Othman.

Read earlier Screenshots entries -- here and here -- for context.