KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): The FBM KLCI is expected to trend sideways today in line with the weaker close last week at most global markets.

The local benchmark index lost some 68.74 points year-on-year in 2015, during a year a of turbulent trade at global equity markets amidst volatile crude oil prices and mixed economic readings from China and the US.

The FBM KLCI may test the 1,700-point level today, as some bargain hunting activities may help push the index up a few points.

Stock and bond markets in major economies closed 2015 with a mixed performance, while oil prices and emerging markets cemented big losses during a year that provided few safe places for investors, according to Reuters.

While equity markets in Japan and Western Europe gained strongly amid ongoing ultra-easy monetary policy, concerns about global growth and a robust US dollar crushed petroleum prices and took down emerging markets, copper and other metals, it said.

Based on corporate announcements and news flow last Thursday, companies that may be in focus today could include: CSC Steel Holdings Bhd, Ewein Bhd, Xingquan International Sports Holdings Bhd, Poh Huat Resources Bhd, Cypark Resources Bhd and Nexgram Holdings Bhd.

(Note: The Edge Research's fundamental score reflects a company's profitability and balance sheet strength, calculated based on historical numbers. The valuation score determines if a stock is attractively valued or not, also based on historical numbers. A score of 3 suggests strong fundamentals and attractive valuations.)