KUALA LUMPUR (July 25): The FBM KLCI is expected to trend sideways today and stay above the 1,760-point level as the US Fed meeting takes centre stage and news on any interest rate hike is likely to weigh on investor sentiment.

The U.S. dollar rose from its lowest in more than a year and U.S. Treasury yields climbed on Monday as investors braced for news from this week's U.S. central bank meeting and possible hints on when the next interest rate hike is coming, according to Reuters.

The Nasdaq hit a record high ahead of a big week of technology earnings reports, though stocks on global markets were mostly lower, it said.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 66.9 points, or 0.31 percent, to close at 21,513.17, the S&P 500 lost 2.63 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,469.91, while the Nasdaq Composite added 23.05 points, or 0.36 percent, to 6,410.81, said Reuters.

Meanwhile, international investors  purchased RM76.30 million Malaysian equity last week, down from RM305.1 million net the prior week, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd Research.

In its weekly fund flow report yesterday, the MIDF Research Strategy Team said this was the first time the weekly inflow went below the RM100 million level time in 2017 and the lowest recorded for the year.

Based on corporate announcements and news flow yesterday, stocks in focus today may include: CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd, Iskandar Waterfront City Bhd, Rohas Tecnic Bhd, Axis REIT, Wah Seong Corp Bhd, Bright Packaging Industry Bhd, ManagePay Systems Bhd, Java Bhd and Eksons Corp Bhd.