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 (March 16): Bursa Malaysia retreated from Wednesday's gains to end lower on Thursday (March 16), in tandem with the weaker regional market performance, following a large-scale selldown of global equities overnight, said an analyst.
At 5pm, the benchmark FBM KLCI had fallen 12.33 points, or 0.88%, to 1,391.60, from Wednesday's close at 1,403.93.
The key index opened 3.11 points lower at 1,400.82, and moved between 1,391.04 and 1,403.93 throughout the day.
Market breadth was negative, with decliners thumping gainers 719 to
238, while 341 counters were unchanged, 969 untraded, and 21 others
suspended.
Turnover amounted to 3.52 billion units worth RM2.22 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said Wall Street fell overnight, as Credit Suisse Group AG shares sank, reigniting worries about a possible global banking crisis.
Investors were also uncertain about the US Federal Reserve's action with regard to interest rates, he added.
"As for the local bourse, we believe that the sell-off was unwarranted, as the Malaysian banking system is highly regulated and has well-contained asset quality risks compared to the US.
"However, due to the uncertain global and regional conditions, we expect short-term market sentiment to remain nervous," he told Bernama.
Thong is anticipating that the KLCI would trend between 1,390 and 1,400 points towards the weekend.
Among the heavyweight stocks, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) lost nine sen to RM8.26 a share, Public Bank Bhd dropped two sen to RM3.93, and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd inched down one sen to RM6.99.
CIMB Group Holdings Bhd shed eight sen to RM5.15, and Tenaga Nasional Bhd weakened seven sen to RM9.35.
Among the actives, Top Glove Corp Bhd rallied 13.5 sen to 83.5 sen, Zen Tech International Bhd edged up half a sen to two sen, and Careplus Group Bhd climbed 2.5 sen to 27 sen.
Hartalega Holdings Bhd surged 21 sen to RM1.78, and Sapura Energy Bhd trimmed half a sen to 4.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index gave up 80.20 points to 10,181.17, the FBMT 100 Index dropped 73.42 points to 9,878.14, and the FBM ACE Index lost 85.58 points to 5,190.77.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index went down 78.09 points to 10,481.27, and the FBM 70 Index contracted 37.51 points to 13,131.53.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index dropped 128.56 points to 15,353.89, the Energy Index lost 24.63 points to 813.37, and the Plantation Index decreased 40.93 points to 6,681.38.
The Industrial Products and Services Index eased 1.88 points to 167.68.
The Main Market volume widened to 2.15 billion shares worth RM1.85 billion, from Wednesday's 2.04 billion shares worth RM1.63 billion.
Warrant turnover expanded to 511.37 million units worth RM76.38 million, from 373.03 million units worth RM59.59 million previously.
The ACE Market volume rose to 865.90 million shares worth RM292.68 million, from 718.55 million shares worth RM646.99 million.
Consumer product and service counters accounted for 316.88 million shares traded on the Main Market, followed by industrial products and services (470.98 million), construction (47.72 million), technology (188.82 million), special purpose acquisition companies (nil), financial services (74.17 million), property (86.38 million), plantation (25.92 million), real estate investment trusts (4.47 million), closed/funds (2,000), energy (400.54 million), healthcare (436.63 million), telecommunications and media (35.06 million), transportation and logistics (33.91 million), and utilities (23.64 million).
Source: The Edge
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