Kuala Lumpur

AS oil prices continued to slip, foreigners concerned over Malaysia's fiscal position trimmed equity holdings to push the stock market 2 per cent lower and just below the psychological 1,700 level.

Analysts warned of further headwinds. The freefall in oil prices has hit the petroleum-producing nation the hardest in the region despite the government's assurances that the economy is diversified enough to withstand external shocks.