KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): The FBM KLCI edged higher in early trade this morning, lifted by select index-linked blue chips.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI added 1.28 points to 1,722.53.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, MISC Bhd, Weida (M) Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd and Lion Industries Bhd.

Futures in bitcoin, which has taken global financial markets by storm, got off to a volatile start at its launch, while the dollar kept gains in Monday's Asian session on expectations the Federal Reserve will stick to its tightening path, according to Reuters.

The most-traded contract on the Chicago-based CBOE Global Markets exchange opened at $15,460, then leapt to a high of $16,660 and was last quoted at $16,050, a more than $1,000 premium to the price on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview said US markets surged to record highs on Friday after better-than-expected employment data.

It said that earlier, European stocks advanced following progress in Brexit negotiations.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI gained 2.20 points to 1721.25 points.

“Following the recent lacklustre performance, the index is expected to continue hovering between 1700 and 1730 points,” it said.