KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 8): The FBM KLCI got off to a muted start despite the robust regional markets, in tandem with the lacklustre overnight close at Wall Street.

At 9.02am, the FBM KLCI rose 1.65 points to 1,691.22.

The early gainers included Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, IOI Corporation Bhd, Pos Malaysia Bhd, Wah Seong Corp Bhd, OldTown Bhd, Tenaga Malaysia Bhd, George Kent (M) Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Axiat Group Bhd.

Asian shares hovered near one-year peaks on Thursday as investors awaited Chinese trade data and a policy meeting by the European Central Bank, where it may announce an extension of its asset buying campaign, according to Reuters.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.2 percent, but that followed four days of gains which took it to the highest since late July 2015, it said.

JF Apex Securities Research in a market preview today said US markets ended flat being dragged by consumer staples as investors digest the Federal Reserve's Beige Book that indicated moderate wage growth in the near term.

It said that earlier, European stocks advanced despite lower German industrial production data.

“On the local market, the FBM KLCI recovered from an intra-day low of 1680.09 points to close flat with 0.35 points lower at 1689.57 points.

“Following the mixed performance in the US and Europe, the FBM KLCI could continue to hover below the resistance of 1705 points,” it said.