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 (April 15): Bursa Malaysia finished trading on an easier note on Friday (April 15) in sync with most key regional bourses.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 6.69 points, or 0.42%, to end at its intraday low of 1,589.01 compared with Thursday’s close of 1,595.7.
The barometer index hit an intraday high of 1,596.62 in the early morning trading session after opening 0.88 of-a-point firmer at 1,596.58.
On the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 487 to 310 with 448 counters unchanged, 1,007 untraded, and 27 others suspended.Total turnover decreased to 2.15 billion units worth RM1.41 billion from 3.32 billion units worth RM2.0 billion on Thursday.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the index continued to close in negative territory mainly due to continuous selling pressure amid weak sentiment across the region.
“Key regional markets closed broadly lower following negative performance on Wall Street. Meanwhile, the lockdown in Shanghai due to Covid-19 outbreaks and the war in Ukraine are weighing on sentiment,” he told Bernama.
Regionally, the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.19% to 3,335.85, South Korea's Kospi shed 0.76% to 2,696.06 while Shanghai’s SSE Composite eased 0.45% to 3,211.24.
Japan’s Nikkei was 0.29% easier at 27,093.19 but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.67% to 21,518.08.
On the local bourse, heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd slid four sen to RM8.79, IHH Healthcare Bhd slipped 12 sen to RM6.40, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd lost eight sen to RM6.52, Public Bank Bhd was flat at RM4.67, while Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd rose six sen to RM10.32.
Of the actives, Datasonic Group Bhd added three sen to 52.5 sen, both Key Alliance Group Bhd and MNC Wireless Bhd were flat at one sen and 3.5 sen, respectively, while Tanco Holdings Bhd shed 6.5 sen to 37 sen, and China Ouhua Winery Holdings Ltd eased half-a-sen to 7.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBMT 100 Index decreased 40.23 points to 11,061.34, FBM Emas Index was 40.99 points weaker at 11,413.7, FBM 70 reduced 24.33 points to 13,781.35, while the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 47.81 points to 12,047.57 and the FBM ACE dipped 59.82 points to 5,786.5.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 0.1 of-a-point to 214.47, the Financial Services Index declined 43.58 points to 16,636, and the Plantation Index slid 109.64 points to 8,355.27.
Main Market volume fell to 1.49 billion shares worth RM1.26 billion compared with 2.07 billion shares worth RM1.78 billion on Thursday.
Warrants turnover dwindled to 113.66 million units valued at RM9.52 million against 256.9 million units valued at RM42.18 million on Thursday.
ACE Market volume slumped to 546.98 million shares worth RM140.99 million versus 996.2 million shares worth RM175.7 million previously.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 245.15 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (382.74 million), construction (165.78 million), technology (233.64 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (39.76 million), property (215.75 million), plantation (45.27 million), REITs (3.28 million), closed/fund (11,600), energy (87.91 million), healthcare (21.31 million), telecommunications and media (11.09 million), transportation and logistics (21.64 million), and utilities (20.55 million).
Source: The Edge
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