KUALA LUMPUR (April 9): The FBM KLCI edged marginally higher in ear;y trade this morning in line with the flat regional markets, lifted by select index-linked blue chips.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI added 0.46 points to 1,837.47.

The gainers included Nestle (M) Bhd, LPI Capital Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Favelle Favco Bhd, George Kent (M) Bhd, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd and Petronas Gas Bhd.

Asian share started flat on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump kept up his twitter war with China over trade just a couple of days before President Xi Jinping gives a keynote speech on his policy priorities, according to Reuters.

Soothing tensions a little was news North Korea had told the United States for the first time that it was prepared to discuss denuclearization when their leaders meet, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview said US markets plunged over 2% after fears of a trade war escalated after President Trump threatened to put more levies on China.

It said that similarly, European stocks ended lower after the US proposed US$100b of additional tariffs on China.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI erased intraday losses to end the day flat after closing 0.88 points higher at 1837.01 points.

“Following the bearish performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI is expected to be negative today and trend lower towards the support of 1800 points,” it said.