KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 3): The FBM KLCI opened lower this morning in line with the weaker start at most regional markets,weighed by index-linked blue chips.

At 9.01am, the FBM KLCI fell 3.40 points to 1,656.83.

The early decliners included Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, AMMB Holdings Bhd, MMC Corporation Bhd, Axiata Group Bhd, Public Bank Bhd and Westports Holdings Bhd.

Asian shares bowed lower on Wednesday while the yen lorded over a weakened U.S dollar as talk the Bank of Japan may retreat from its massive bond-buying campaign twigged a shakeout in debt markets globally, according to Reuters.

Worryingly for energy shares, the broad-based decline in the dollar was still not enough to spare U.S. crude oil from its first finish under $40 a barrel since April, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets declined overnight with the Dow on a 7-day losing streak as oil price closed below US$40/barrel.

It said that similarly, European stocks dropped led by banks after poor results from their stress tests.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI lost 5 points to 1660.23 points.

“Following the negative performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI could decline further towards its support of 1650 points,” it said.