KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): The FBM KLCI fell 3.45 points or 0.2% in line with regional markets as investors turned cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan (BOJ) meetings this week.

The outcome of these meetings will offer clues on the US and Japan's monetary policies, which could have a major impact on global markets.

At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,714.51. Across Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.76% each.

Reuters reported that BOJ policymakers were likely to meet on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss further easing, while the US Federal Reserve, which lifted its benchmark overnight interest rate in December for the first time in nearly a decade, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday.

In Malaysia, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd technical analyst Loui Low Ley Yee told theedgemarkets.com that investors were still cautious as they waited for the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

"That is why you can see the volumes are not very interesting. It is still below the two billion (level) over the past three-week to four-week period," he said.

Across Bursa Malaysia today, decliners outpaced gainers by 516 to 269. Volume was 1.85 billion shares valued at RM1.64 billion.

The top gainer was Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd while the leading decliner was Globetronics Technology Bhd.

Spring Gallery Bhd's irredeemable convertible preference shares (SGB-PA) were the most-actively traded counter.