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 (Sept 21): Bursa Malaysia’s key index ended slightly higher as bargain-hunting activities emerged after seven straight days of losses, lifted mainly by telco, gaming, and banking stocks.
At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 2.55 points, or 0.17%, to 1,530.44, from Monday’s close of 1,527.89.
The index, which opened 3.18 points weaker at 1,524.71, moved between 1,521.44 and 1,533.11 throughout the day.
However, market breadth was negative with decliners outnumbering gainers 538 to 436, while 468 counters were unchanged, 830 untraded, and five others suspended.Turnover rose to 4.72 billion units worth RM2.86 billion from Monday’s 4.69 billion units worth RM2.9 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said that comparatively, regional markets ended mixed as investors remained cautious due to China property company Evergrande’s debt crisis.
“Moreover, uncertainty over the United States’ Covid-19 stimulus also weighs on the market sentiment.
“We reckon trading on the local bourse to be tepid amid the heightened market volatility, hence we expect the index to trend within the 1,520-1,550 range for the remainder of the week,” he told Bernama.
Among the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd appreciated three sen to RM8.33, Axiata Group Bhd surged 15 sen to RM4.10, Genting Malaysia Bhd gained four sen to RM3.05, Public Bank Bhd and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd added one sen each to RM4.03 and RM7.96, respectively, while IHH Healthcare Bhd eased five sen to RM6.60, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd fell two sen to RM4.78 and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd eased six sen to RM5.59.
Of the actives, Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd bagged five sen to 36.5 sen, Dagang NeXchange Bhd edged up half-a-sen to 76.5 sen, KNM Group Bhd was flat at 25 sen, Fintec Global Bhd inched down half-a-sen to two sen and Pasukhas Group Bhd went down 1.5 sen to 7.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index advanced 16.78 points to 11,222.4, the FBMT 100 Index was 20.22 points higher at 10,931.78, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index chalked up 16.44 points to 12,197.88.
The FBM 70 rose 35.35 points to 14,837.5, while FBM ACE weakened by 10.99 points to 6,995.62.
Sector wise, the Plantation Index went up 43.55 points to 6,284.82, the Industrial Products and Services Index eased 0.17 of-a-point to 196.48, and the Financial Services Index improved 19.8 points to 15,254.2.
The Main Market volume decreased to 2.95 billion shares worth RM2.54 billion against 3.01 billion shares worth RM2.5 billion on Monday.
Warrants turnover fell to 323.43 million units valued at RM58.31 million from 388.19 million units valued at RM74.47 million yesterday.
Volume on the ACE Market went up to 1.42 billion units worth RM264.18 million from Monday’s 1.25 billion units worth RM322.16 million.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 468.17 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (880.91 million), construction (107.51 million), technology (295.41 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (40.14 million), property (303.92 million), plantation (33.29 million), REITs (27.81 million), closed/fund (1,000), energy (538.47 million), healthcare (110.11 million), telecommunications and media (46.87 million), transportation and logistics (83.34 million) and utilities (16.26 million).
Source: The Edge
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