KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 20): The FBM KLCI opened lower today in line with the dip at most regional markets, weighed by index-linked banking stocks.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI fell 2.32 points to 1,715.88.

The top losers included APM Automotive Bhd, Globetronics Technology Bhd, Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Berjaya Auto Bhd, Genting Malaysia Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd, AMMB Holdings Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd and Keck Seng (Malaysia) Bhd.

Asian equities dipped early on Tuesday after commodity prices slid in wake of China growth woes and dampened risk sentiment, while the euro hovered near a 10-day low ahead of a European Central Bank meeting that could open the door for more monetary easing, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan shed 0.3 percent. Australian stocks lost 0.2 percent as worries about China weighed on mining and energy stocks following Monday's China GDP data, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets closed flat amid corporate earnings, lower oil price and China's 3Q GDP coming within expectation.

Similarly, it said European stocks ended mixed as mining counters declined.

“On the local bourse, the FBM KLCI added 1.38 points to end flatly at 1718.20 points after coming off an intra-day high of 1727.41 points.

“Following the lackluster display in Wall Street, we expect the FBM KLCI to continue hovering below the resistance of 1745 points,” it said.