KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 24): The FBM KLCI got off to a flat start this morning despite the higher opening at most regional markets as losses at select index-linked blue chips dragged the local market.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI shed 0.01 point to 1,838.03.

The decliners included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Ipmuda Bhd, Genting Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd, Padini Holdings Bhd, AAM Holdings Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.

Asian shares scaled record peaks on Wednesday as strong corporate earnings and optimism on global growth outweighed concerns over trade tensions, while a fresh burst of speculative selling took the U.S. dollar to three-year lows, according to Reuters.

A 10 percent surge in Netflix led gains across the tech sector as it became just the latest to top forecasts. So far, 82 percent of reporting companies having beaten estimates, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview said the DJIA hit an intraday record, before closing 3.79 points lower at 26,210.81 points. The S&P 500 also closed at an all-time high, climbing 0.2% to 2,839.13 points, as the corporate earnings season continued.

It said that similarly, European stocks narrowly finished in positive territory, as investors reacted to the end of a three-day government shutdown in the U.S.

“On the local bourse, the FBM KLCI gained 4.89 points or 0.27% to end at 1838.04 points yesterday.

“Following the positive performance in the overseas markets, the FBM KLCI could extend its gain and test the immediate resistance of 1840 points,” it said.