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 8): Bursa Malaysia closed marginally lower on Monday (Aug 8) amid mixed regional peers as sentiment was mostly weighed by the negative cues from global markets.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 5.52 points to 1,496.03 from 1,501.55 on Friday, with almost two thirds of the 30 index-linked companies ending in negative territory.
The benchmark index, which opened 0.03 of-a-point better at 1,501.58 on Monday morning, fluctuated between 1,490.41 and 1,501.58 throughout the trading session.
On the broader market, losers beat gainers 464 to 323, while 410
counters were unchanged, 1,061 untraded, and eight others suspended.
Total turnover reduced slightly to 2.19 billion units worth RM1.33 billion from 2.61 billion units worth RM1.62 billion on Friday.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said key regional markets ended mixed following different reactions to the US economic data.
He also said some investors are wary of further possible aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserves following stronger-than-expected US job data last Friday.
On the local front, he reckoned sentiment to remain cautious given the increasing market volatility across the region.
“The local market may turn positive due to persistent net inflow from foreign funds which reached RM6.7 billion year to date.
“As such, we expect the FBM KLCI to trend sideways with an uptrend bias within the 1,485-1,515 range for the week,” he told Bernama, citing the next resistance level to be at 1,500 followed by 1,530, with the support level at 1,460.
Among other heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd slipped one sen to RM8.88, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd fell seven sen to RM8.73, IHH Healthcare Bhd eased two sen to RM6.41, and Tenaga Nasional Bhd lost 12 sen to RM8.35.
Public Bank Bhd added one sen to RM4.64 and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd gained three sen to RM5.28.
Of the actives, Metronic Global Bhd and Zen Tech International Bhd trimmed one sen each to 6.5 sen and 2.5 sen respectively, Sapura Energy Bhd was flat at 4.5 sen, MY EG Services Bhd shed 2.5 sen to 78.5 sen, and Dagang NeXchange Bhd bagged 1.5 sen to 89 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased 35.87 points to 10,623.58, the FBMT 100 Index contracted 33.85 points to 10,371.83, the FBM ACE erased 18.37 points to 4,855.66, the FBM Emas Shariah Index lost 63.23 points to 10,767.09, and the FBM 70 declined 23.83 points to 12,751.83.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index eased 1.35 points to 182.63, the Energy Index slipped 0.5 of-a-point to 652.53 and the Plantation Index went down 4.14 points to 7,121.13.
However, the Financial Services Index rose 22.46 points to 16,652.78.
Main Market volume dwindled to 1.47 billion shares worth RM1.12 billion from 1.79 billion shares worth RM1.39 billion on Friday.
Warrants turnover narrowed to 216.42 million units valued at RM38.20 million versus 258.51 million units valued at RM45.99 million.
ACE Market volume decreased to 508.53 million shares worth RM168.52 million from 555.57 million shares worth RM187.25 million previously.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 139.22 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (540.73 million), construction (37.73 million), technology (262.51 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (38.86 million), property (94.10 million), plantation (21.27 million), REITs (7.61 million), closed/fund (2,800), energy (180.71 million), healthcare (68.62 million), telecommunications and media (38.40 million), transportation and logistics (26.30 million), and utilities (10.55 million).
Source: The Edge
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