KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher on Wednesday, with the key index rising 1.10 per cent, in line with firm gains across regional markets following a strong rally on Wall Street overnight, said an analyst. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said the improvement in sentiment was underpinned by easing geopolitical concerns and a decline in oil prices. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increase 18.54 points or 1.10 per cent to 1,708.90 from Tuesday’s close of 1,690.36. The benchmark index opened 25.58 points higher at 1,715.94, marking its intraday high, and hit a low of 1,700.20 during the mid-morning session. The broader market was positive, with gainers leading decliners 780 to 444. A total of 475 counters were unchanged, 926 untraded and 11 suspended.
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3): The FBM KLCI closed down 10.78 points or 0.68% today after Asian shares fell substantially as the US' announcement of new import tariffs on European Union (EU) imports hit world market sentiment.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,564.12, led by Public Bank Bhd and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd's share price drop.
Public Bank closed 42 sen or 2.13% lower at RM19.28 to be the top-percentage decliner among the 30 KLCI stocks. Press Metal ended down nine sen or 1.88% at RM4.69.
AxiTrader Asia Pacific market strategist Stephen Innes wrote in a note today Malaysia's Budget 2020, which will be announced this Oct 11 "is now being viewed as the next significant catalyst which is likely keeping foreign investors cautious on local bonds, equities and currency."
Earlier today, Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd wrote in a note that investors may adopt a defensive yield-seeking strategy amid the current market backdrop.
"Overall, we will likely see defensive yield seeking to be the dominant investment style in the near term," Hong Leong said.
Globally, Reuters reported that Asian stocks tumbled to a one-month low on Thursday as already-growing market fears about global growth were fanned by the US announcement of new import tariffs on products from the EU.
It was reported that Washington will enact 10% tariffs on Airbus planes and 25% duties on French wine, Scotch and Irish whiskies and cheese from across the continent as punishment for illegal EU aircraft subsidies.
EU manufacturers are already facing US tariffs on steel and aluminium and a threat from the US to penalise EU cars and car parts, according to Reuters.
Source: The Edge

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