KUALA LUMPUR (July 12): The FBM KLCI opened lower this morning, weighed by losses at key blue heavyweights.

At 9.0am, the FBM KLCI dipped 0.06 points to 1,754.97.

The top losers in early trade included Nestle (M) Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd, Unisem (M) Bhd, Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd, Boustead Holdings Bhd,Genting Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

The actives included Eduspec Holdings Bhd, Luster Insustries Bhd, YTL Corporation Bhd, Frontken Corp Bhd, UEM Sunrise Bhd and RGB International Bhd.

The top gainers included Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Teck Guan Perdana Bhd, New Hoong Fatt Holdings Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Hong Long Financial Group Bhd and Prestariang Bhd.

Asian shares steadied on Wednesday after Wall Street managed to weather a fresh twist in the political controversy surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, while investors looked ahead to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's comments later in the day, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked up 0.1 percent while Japan's Nikkei slid 0.3 percent, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets ended flat overnight as President Donald Trump's presidency came under pressure following the Russia controversy after his son released emails on Twitter.

It said European stocks declined after volatile oil prices and a survey by the CBI and PwC indicated negative business sentiment in the UK after the Brexit vote.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI lost 2.10 points to 1755.03 points.

“Following the bearish performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI could extend its selldown below the 100-day moving average support level at 1755 points,” it said.