KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 21): The FBM KLCI opened lower this morning in line with the cautious regional markets, weighed by losses at select blue chips.

At 9.01am, the FBM KLCI dipped 2.20 points to 1,653.58.

The early decliners included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Maxis Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, Berjaya Auto Bhd and Gamuda Bhd.

Asian shares got off to a tentative start on Wednesday, while the yen was steady as investors braced for the outcome of the Bank of Japan's policy meeting amid heightened speculation the central bank will make crucial changes to its massive easing programme, according to Reuters.

The BOJ is expected to make negative interest rates the centrepiece of a new policy framework — widely seen as a desperate attempt to show it still has the firepower to lift Japan out of years of stagnation, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets ended slightly higher overnight despite negative housing data as investors brace for interest rate decisions by US Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan later today.

It said that earlier, European stocks were flat after lower oil prices.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI gained 4.07 points to 1655.78 points after a last minute surge.

“Following the mixed performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI is expected to consolidate above the support of 1650 points,” it said.