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 (July 7): Bursa Malaysia ended lower on Thursday (July 7) amidst the prevailing cautious sentiment in the market, said an analyst.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slipped 2.16 points or 0.15% to end the day at 1,418.69 from Wednesday’s close of 1,420.85.
The benchmark index opened 0.19 of-a-point higher at 1,421.04 and moved between 1,418.69 and 1,425.85 throughout the day.
The overall market breadth was negative as losers outnumbered gainers 430 to 364, while 423 counters were unchanged, 1,007 untraded, and seven others suspended.
Total turnover decreased to 1.94 billion units valued at RM1.45 billion from Wednesday’s 2.16 billion units valued at RM1.63 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said Malaysian equities closed lower with selling mainly seen in the energy and industrial products stocks, while buying activities were mainly in the healthcare and plantation counters.
He said the market sentiment would remain cautious over the short term due to the heightened regional market volatility.
“As such, we expect the FBM KLCI to trade within the 1,415-1,435 range towards the weekend, with immediate resistance at 1,600 and support at 1,460,” he told Bernama.
Among the heavyweights, Tenaga Nasional Bhd gained two sen to RM7.96, Petronas Gas Bhd was flat at RM16.40, Malayan Banking Bhd fell four sen to RM8.58, Public Bank Bhd eased three sen to RM4.36, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd trimmed 31 sen to RM8.34, IHH Healthcare Bhd slid five sen to RM6.33 and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd eased one sen to RM5.09.
Of the actives, Top Glove Corp Bhd advanced seven sen to RM1.01, TA Win Holdings Bhd edged up half-a-sen 8.5 sen, Widad Group Bhd was flat at 36.5 sen, Seng Fong Holdings Bhd gave up seven sen to 67.5 sen, Reach Energy Bhd edged down half-a-sen to four sen and Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd decreased five sen to 87.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index fell 12.42 points to 10,092.13, FBM Emas Shariah Index gained 3.86 points to 10,152.57, FBM 70 shaved off 11.24 points to 12,162.03, FBM ACE decreased 22.72 points to 4,604, and the FBMT 100 Index gave up 13.61 points to 9,848.83.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index went down 68.51 points to 15,997.25, the Industrial Products and Services Index was 3.68 points easier at 171.8, and the Plantation Index surged 116.68 points to 6,588.47.
Main Market volume fell to 1.24 billion shares worth RM1.31 billion from Wednesday’s 1.42 billion shares worth RM1.47 billion.
Warrants turnover rose to 468.15 million units worth RM77.60 million from 431.29 million units worth RM77.84 million on Wednesday.
ACE Market volume dwindled to 240.47 million shares worth RM61.11 million from 304.42 million shares worth RM82.19 million previously.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 129.06 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (415.0 million), construction (25.40 million), technology (123.02 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (53.46 million), property (67.87 million), plantation (31.53 million), REITs (7.08 million), closed/fund (5,000), energy (209.62 million), healthcare (113.09 million), telecommunications and media (33.66 million), transportation and logistics (13.92 million), and utilities (12.38 million).
Source: The Edge
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