KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): The FBM KLCI notched up muted gains in ealy trade this morning against the backdrop of regional markets that slipped.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI gained 2.16 points to 1,775.74.

The early gainers included KESM Industries Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Hai-O Enterprise Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Power Root Bhd, KPJ Healthcare Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd and Maxis Bhd.

The U.S. dollar shone while Asian shares slipped slightly on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced a plan to start shrinking its balance sheet and signalled one more rate hike later this year, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest dollar-denominated index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.4 percent, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets ended mixed overnight with the Dow and S&P inched higher to record highs led by financial counters after the Federal Reserve hinted another rate hike this year and it would start unwinding its balance sheet next month.

It said that earlier, European stocks were also mixed as UK retail sales beat expectation.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI lost 3.08 points to 1773.58 points.

“Following the mixed performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI could remain pressured and hover below the resistance of 1800 points,” it said.