KUALA LUMPUR (July 30): The FBM KLCI opened lower today, weighed by a motley mix of blue chip stocks despite the firmer open at most regional markets.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI fell 2.25 points to 1,696.74.

The top losers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, YSP Southast Asia Holdings Bhd, RHB Capital Bhd, MISC Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and V.S. Industry Bhd.

Asian shares were firm on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it saw the economy and jobs continuing to strengthen, helping lift the dollar as traders bet that higher U.S. interest rates were around the corner, according to Reuters.

Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8 percent while Australian shares tacked on 0.3 percent and South Korean shares gained 0.2 percent, it said.

BIMB Securities Research in a market preview today said Shanghai and Hong Kong ended higher yesterday as Chinese officials stepped up efforts to calm markets in the country while other Asian shares closed roughly flat as investors awaiting for the Federal Reserve’s monetary-policy meeting.

Locally, it said the FBM KLCI fell 0.71 points to 1,698.99, dragged down mainly by O&G and energy stocks.

“Foreign institutions and local retail remain the net sellers while local institutions were net buyers.

“We expect the local market to remain sideways with slight downside bias due to lack of fresh catalysts coupled with continuous selling by foreign institutions and expect the index to experience strong support at 1,690,” it said.