KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 17): The FBM KLCI trended higher this morning in line with its regional peers, lifted by select blue chips including index-linked plantation stocks.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI gained 0.92 points to 1,774.67.

The early gainers included Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Pentamaster Corporation Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd and Unisem (M) Bhd.

Asian stocks edged up on Thursday as tensions between the U.S. and North Korea came off the boil, while worries about President Donald Trump's ability to implement his pro-growth agenda and the Federal Reserve's concerns about low U.S. inflation hit the dollar, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.3 percent in early trade, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets advanced overnight as the Federal Reserve released the minutes of its July meeting.

It said that similarly, European stocks climbed as geopolitical tension in North Korea eased and Europe's 2Q GDP grew 2.2%.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI gained 1.36 points to 1773.75 points.

“Following the positive performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI could remain buoyed and climb towards the resistance of 1800 points,” it said.