The Bank of Russia unexpectedly maintained its key interest rate at a record-high 21% , defying analysts’ expectations of another significant hike as inflation remains stubbornly elevated. The decision marks a shift toward a more measured approach in balancing economic growth and price stability. Key Details Inflation Concerns: Annual inflation climbed to 8.9% in November, well above the central bank’s 4% target , with inflation expectations reaching 13.9% in December. Policy Rationale: The central bank cited the significant tightening of monetary conditions after October’s 200-basis point hike as sufficient to resume disinflationary processes. Governor Elvira Nabiullina emphasized avoiding both economic overheating and severe slowdowns. Economic Overheating: Elevated government spending on the war in Ukraine and social programs, coupled with labor shortages and rising wages, have fueled strong domestic demand, exacerbating price pressures...
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 27): The FBM KLCI rose 0.28% today, its highest in almost three months, as the positive market sentiment continued to hold amid the temporary resolution to the political turmoil in recent weeks.
At 5pm, the benchmark index gained 4.42 points or 0.28% to close at 1,590.16, after earlier touching an intraday high of 1,594.52.
On a week-on-week basis, the index was up 4.8% since last Friday’s closing of 1,518.03 points.
The local bourse saw a total of 4.08 billion shares worth RM2.96 billion traded, lower than yesterday’s 4.38 billion worth RM3.25 billion.Market breadth was negative, as 620 decliners outnumbered 393 gainers. Meanwhile, 444 counters were unchanged.
In a note, Hong Leong Investment Bank analyst Ng Jun Sheng said the KLCI may continue to rise, although the upside may be capped.
“Driven by foreign funds buying in anticipation of easing political risk and confidence in policy continuity, the reopening of more economic sectors amid promising progress in vaccinations, coupled with further extension on intraday short selling and intraday short selling by proprietary day traders to Dec 31, 2021, the KLCI may continue to advance further but the upside is likely to be capped near 1600-1615 territory, after the recent surge from August’s low at 1,483,” wrote Ng.
He added that the announcement of the new Cabinet could dictate the direction of the market, going forward.
Around noon today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the lineup of Cabinet ministers, which saw most ministers maintaining their previous portfolios. However, some ministers who were part of the previous Cabinet were given new portfolios. A notable example is Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Seri Adham Baba swapping their portfolios — Khairy is now Minister of Health, while Adham is Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The gainers, in terms of value, were led by DKSH Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd and IHH Healthcare Bhd, while the losers were led by Vitrox Corp Bhd, Genetec Technology Bhd and Oriental Food Industries Holdings Bhd. The most actively-traded stock was KNM Group Bhd.
Regionally, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.36%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 0.03%, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.17%.
Source: The Edge
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