KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 5): The FBM KLCI edged up marginally in early trade today against the backdrop of weaker regional markets.

At 9.02am, the FBM KLCI was up 0.86 points at 1,654.23 points.

The early gainers included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, MISC Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Aturmaju Resources Bhd, RHB Capital Bhd, Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Inari Amertron Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd, Petron Malaysian Refining & Marketing Bhd and Jaya Tiasa Holdings Bhd.

Asian share markets were on the ropes for a second straight session on Tuesday as investors waited anxiously to see if Beijing can head off the latest selling stampede in Chinese stocks, according to Reuters.

An unnerving combination of global economic concerns and escalating tensions in the Middle East kept pressure on commodity prices while bolstering safe-haven sovereign bonds, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets plunged on the first trading day of the year after major selldown in China triggered the circuit breaker.

Similarly, it said European stocks tumbled on geopolitical tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"On the local market, the FBM KLCI plunged 39.14 points to 1,653.37 points.

"Following the bearish sentiment from China's trading halt, the immediate support at 1,645 points could be tested today," it said.

(Note: The Edge Research's fundamental score reflects a company's profitability and balance sheet strength, calculated based on historical numbers. The valuation score determines if a stock is attractively valued or not, also based on historical numbers. A score of 3 suggests strong fundamentals and attractive valuations.)