KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia gave up earlier gains to end mixed today, amid a higher regional market showing, as property, construction, and healthcare counters attracted buying interests, while plantation, banking, and telecommunication stocks saw some profit-taking, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.70 points to close at 1,602.34 from yesterday’s close of 1,604.04. The benchmark index, which opened 0.86 of-a-point lower at 1,603.18, moved between 1,601.02 and 1,608.88 during the trading session. However, the broader market was mixed to higher, with gainers leading decliners by 565 to 438 while 502 counters remained unchanged, 961 untraded, and 14 suspended. Turnover narrowed to 2.83 billion units valued at RM2.08 billion versus 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the benchmark index remained range-bound and it required a dec
European stocks, after hitting record highs in 2024, face a challenging road ahead as fund managers from Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and Northern Trust warn of rising risks from a weak economic outlook, uncertain corporate earnings, and the looming US presidential election.
BlackRock’s Helen Jewell cautioned that the fragile market could remain volatile, particularly with uncertainty surrounding the US election and a shaky macroeconomic backdrop in Europe, where the eurozone’s private sector has been shrinking and Germany faces a potential contraction.
Adding to the uncertainty is the upcoming third-quarter earnings season in mid-October. With consumer demand weakening, early signs suggest that earnings for some major companies, including Novo Nordisk and H&M, may disappoint. Expectations for full-year earnings have already dropped 2.8% since January, and some analysts believe further downgrades are likely.
The US election adds another layer of risk, particularly if Donald Trump wins and enacts a proposed 10% import tariff, which could spark a trade war, further pressuring European earnings in sectors like automobiles, technology, and capital goods.
While China’s recent stimulus measures offer some hope, experts like Gilles Guibout from Axa IM remain cautious, noting that the impact on European equities, particularly luxury goods and automakers, remains uncertain.
Ultimately, upcoming earnings reports will likely set the direction for Europe’s stock market, leaving investors to navigate an increasingly complex and volatile landscape.
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