KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 22): The FBM KLCI pared some of its losses at mid-morning today, but remained tepid in tandem with the regional markets.

At 10.01am, the FBM KLCI was down 0.63 points to 1,687.05. The index had earlier slipped to a low of 1,682.59.

The top losers included Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Lii Hen Industries Bhd, SAM Engineering & Equipment Bhd, Ajiya Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, DKSH Holdings (M) Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, Lafarge Malaysia Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and MBM Resources Holdings Bhd.

The actives included M3 Technologies (Asia) Bhd, DGB Gurney Resources Bhd, AirAsuia X Bhd, Vivocom Intl Holdings Bhd, Dagang NeXchange Bhd, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd and Iris Corp Bhd.

The gainers included United Plantations Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, United U-Li Corp Bhd, Berjaya Food Bhd,Pos Malaysia Bhd, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd, Hong Leong Industries Bhd and Lay Hong Bhd.

Asian shares slipped on Monday and the dollar pulled away from last week's lows on expectations that a signal might emerge from a Federal Reserve gathering this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that the U.S. central bank is gearing up to hike interest rates, according to Reuters.

Global central bankers will join the annual mountain retreat that opens on Thursday, with Fed Chair Janet Yellen due to speak the following day, it said.

Hong Leong IB Research reiterated that the FBM KLCI will engage in a mild consolidation mode amid overbought daily and weekly slow stochastic indicators, especially when a flurry of big caps results in the next two weeks during the Aug reporting season.

“Externally, key focus is the global central bankers in Jackson Hole (Aug 25-27), where Janet Yellen may provide insight on the rate outlook, given that more and more Fed officials are supportive for one more rate hike by end 2016,” it said.