KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): The FBM KLCI is expected to commence trading in September, historically a tricky month for Malaysian equities, on a cautious note in line with global markets, as the spectre of a geopolitical conflict in the Korean peninsula weighed down global investor sentiment.

Stocks and the dollar fell on Monday while the Japanese yen, gold and sovereign bonds rose after North Korea's most powerful nuclear test to date dampened investor appetite for risk, according to Reuters.

Sunday's test, and reports from Seoul that Pyongyang was preparing for another missile launch, sparked warnings from Washington and drove South Korea's stock market 1.2 percent lower. Japan's Nikkei lost almost 1 percent, it said.

With Wall Street closed for the Labor Day holiday at the start of a week likely to become increasingly dominated by a number of central bank meetings, the fall in European stocks was less marked, said Reuters.

September has historically been the trickiest month in the year for Malaysian equity. The market crashes in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008 and 2011 all occurred in September.

Based on corporate announcements on Bursa Malaysia and news flow last Wednesday, companies that will be in focus today when the market resumes trading after the long break may include: Malayan Banking, Felda Global Ventures Holdings, Boustead Holdings, Kossan Rubber Industries, Axiata Group, Malton, Bonia Corporation, Ekovest, Bison Consolidated, Brahim's Holdings, Titijaya Land, Voir Holdings.