KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): The FBM KLCI got off to a slow start today in line with the sluggish regional markets and overnight decline at Wall Street.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI fell 4.67 points to 1,700.36.

The top losers included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, S P Setia Bhd, IJM Plantations Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Public Bank Bhd.

Asian equities got off to a sluggish start on Wednesday as concerns about corporate earnings hobbled Wall Street while investors counted down to the European Central Bank's policy meeting later in the week, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan drifted off 0.07 percent. Australian stocks lost 0.2 percent as worries about China weighed on commodity prices, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets declined amid quarterly results announcements and despite better-than-expected housing starts.

Similarly, it said European stocks were weighed by renewed concerns on China's economic slowdown.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI lost 13.17 points to 1705.30 points.

“Following the sluggish performance in global markets, we expect further weakness in the KLCI with support at 1685 points,” it said.