Key Takeaways Renewed US-Iran tensions pushed Brent crude briefly above US$80 , reigniting concerns over global energy supplies. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, Wall Street avoided a sharp sell-off , suggesting investors believe the conflict remains manageable for now. Higher oil prices have revived expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike , as markets worry about renewed inflation. Technology stocks remained relatively resilient , showing that AI continues to provide underlying support for equities. The next move in oil prices could determine whether market volatility returns. Market Insight When news broke that the US had launched fresh strikes on Iran , investors immediately rushed into the oil market. Brent crude briefly climbed above US$80 a barrel , as fears grew that escalating tensions could disrupt supplies through the Strait of Hormuz , one of the world's busiest energy shipping routes. Yet the reaction in equities was far more measured. Although the S...
KUALA LUMPUR (July 28): Bursa Malaysia ended at an intraday high on Thursday (July 28), thanks to the positive local market sentiment and foreign support, in tandem with the uptrend in the regional markets, a dealer said. At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 20.49 points, or 1.39%, to 1,491.2 from Wednesday’s close of 1,470.71. The index opened 1.68 points better at 1,472.39 and gained momentum towards the end of the trading day. On the broader market, gainers trounced losers 653 to 264, while 393 counters were unchanged, 988 untraded and 66 others suspended. Total turnover increased to 2.83 billion units worth RM1.81 billion from 2.19 billion units worth RM1.36 billion on Wednesday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the key regional indices trended broadly higher following upbeat cues on Wall Street overnight. "Investors reacted positively to the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) anticipated interest rate hike....