KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): The FBM KLCI dipped in early trade weighed by losses at index-linked finance stocks.

At 9.03am, the FBM KLCI shed 0.88 points to 1,693.44.

The top losers included SAM Engineering & Equipment Bhd, Amway Holdings (M) Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Hong Leong Financikal Group Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Hume Industries Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd and Public Bank Bhd.

Asian stocks edged up early on Thursday and the dollar fell after the Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes showed policymakers were in no hurry to add to U.S. borrowing costs, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2 percent, thanks to hopes that the Fed's accommodative stance - a major liquidity spigot for global markets - would continue a little longer than expected, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets gained overnight led by utility counters after the release of minutes of the Fed's July meeting.

It said that earlier, European stocks declined as investors were cautious ahead of the minutes' release.

“On the local bourse, the FBM KLCI lost 5.57 points to 1694.32 points.

“Following the mixed performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI could continue to hover below the resistance of 1705 points,” it said.