KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 2): The FBM KLCI pared some of its gains at mid-morning today in line with the nervy regional markets.

At 10.01am, the FBM KLCI was up 1.81 points to 1,672.36. The index had earlier risen to a high of 1,675.39.

The gainers included Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, KLCC Property Holdings Bhd, United U-Li Corp Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Asia File Corp Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd.

The actives included Evergreen Fibreboard Bhd, AirAsia X Bhd, Malaysia Building Society Bhd, AWC Bhd, TH Heavy Engineering Bhd and AirAsia Bhd.

The losers included Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, PPB Group Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Westports Holdings Bhd.

The potential for a strong U.S. non-farm payrolls number later in day - and with it an elevated chance of a Federal Reserve rate hike soon - kept Asian financial markets nervously marking time on Friday, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.1 percent, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research said given further slump in Brent oil prices and rising bets of a second Fed rate hike in the near term, the FBM KLCI may consolidate further ahead of the US jobs data tonight and deteriorating technical outlook.