KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher today, buoyed by supportive local economic policies, positive sentiment from strong technology stocks earnings, and a favourable United States (US) market outlook, an analyst said. Add to that, Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 3.0 per cent is poised to encourage domestic spending and investment. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 13.47 points, or 0.83 per cent, to close at its intraday high of 1,634.17, compared to Tuesday’s close of 1,620.70. The benchmark index opened 3.71 points higher at 1,624.41 and subsequently hit a low of 1,623.52 in early trade before trending upwards toward the closing session. Market breadth was positive, with advancers trumping decliners 849 to 352, while 428 counters were unchanged, 765 untraded, and nine suspended. Turnover expanded to 3.39 billion units
The European Central Bank (ECB) is facing increasing internal divergence as officials debate the next steps in interest rate cuts, quantitative tightening (QT), and the ongoing battle with inflation. While the ECB has largely succeeded in steering the euro-zone economy toward its 2% inflation target, the path forward is becoming less clear as policymakers differ on how to proceed.
Tensions surfaced last week during discussions in Washington, where policymakers shared differing views on rate cuts, inflation risks, and how to communicate the ECB’s strategy. This comes ahead of the crucial December meeting, where the ECB is expected to make decisions that could impact the broader economic outlook. Policymakers will soon review key data, including inflation figures for October and a report on Germany’s recession, which will provide a clearer picture of the euro zone’s economic health.
Financial markets are currently pricing in about 35 basis points of rate cuts for December, leaving traders divided between a quarter-point or a more aggressive half-point reduction. ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized that while the direction of rate cuts is clear, the pace will depend on backward- and forward-looking data.
The divergence within the ECB is evident. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel has warned against cutting rates too quickly, while others, such as Lithuania’s Gediminas Simkus, see no case for a larger cut. On the other end, Portugal’s Mario Centeno has advocated for more significant rate cuts, citing economic weakness.
Adding to the complexity, some officials are concerned that accelerating the pace of rate cuts could signal deeper worries about the economic outlook, potentially creating market turbulence. ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane reassured that disinflation is on track, but not all members share his optimism, with some fearing a substantial undershooting of the 2% inflation target.
Another contentious issue is quantitative tightening (QT), with the ECB gradually rolling off bonds from its policy portfolios. The central bank risks a scenario where it simultaneously cuts rates while tightening liquidity, creating a delicate balancing act for policymakers.
As the ECB heads toward its next decision, the internal disagreements reflect a broader challenge in managing economic expectations while maintaining credibility in a rapidly changing environment.
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