KUALA LUMPUR (March 19): The FBM KLCI edged higher in early trade this morning, lifted by gains at select blue chips. However. any advance is seen limited in line with the hesitant regional markets ahead of the U.S. Rederal Reserve meeting this week.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI was up 1.70 points to 1,848.09.

The gainers included Magni-Tech Industries Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd, V.S.Industry Bhd and UMW Holdings Bhd.

Asian share markets got off to a hesitant start on Monday for a week in which the Federal Reserve is likely to deliver a hike in U.S. interest rates and perhaps signal that as many as three more lie in store for the rest of the year, according to Reuters.

Japan's Nikkei took an early 0.3 percent drop as exporters were hit by recent broad-based gains in the yen, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview said US markets posted slight gains on Friday as investor sentiment remained negative due to concerns of a trade war with China.

It said that earlier, European stocks advanced after being led by oil and gas counters following higher oil prices.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI gained 1.12 points to 1846.39 points.

“Following the uncertainty in the US, we expect the FBM KLCI to remain pressured with support at 1840 points,” it said.