KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia's key index closed at an intraday high today, supported by continued buying interest even as renewed geopolitical tensions and a weaker overnight lead from Wall Street following the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) decision to stand pat on interest rates weighed on broader sentiment. The Fed has decided to hold rates steady for the fifth consecutive meeting, with the Federal Funds Rate unchanged between 3.50 per cent and 3.75 per cent. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 4.84 points to 1,720.40 from yesterday’s close of 1,715.56. The benchmark index, which opened 1.14 points lower at 1,714.42, hit its lowest level of 1,710.69 in early trade before gaining momentum for the rest of the day. However, the broader market was negative with losers outpacing gainers 581 to 411, while 612 counters were unchanged, 1,173 untraded, and 87 suspended. Turnover declined to 2.49 billion units valued at RM2.25 billion from ...
In a surprisingly civil vice presidential debate held on Tuesday, Democratic nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Republican nominee US Senator JD Vance clashed over key policy issues while largely maintaining a cordial demeanor. This debate comes amid an increasingly contentious election campaign marked by inflammatory rhetoric and two assassination attempts.
Despite their history of sharp attacks on each other during the campaign, the two rivals reserved their criticisms for their respective running mates: Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump.
The most intense moment of the debate occurred towards the end, when Vance, who previously stated he would not have voted to certify the results of the 2020 election, avoided addressing whether he would challenge this year's vote if Trump were to lose. In response, Walz pointed out that Trump’s false claims of voter fraud incited the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
“He is still saying he didn't lose the election,” Walz stated, turning to Vance and asking, “Did he lose the 2020 election?” Vance sidestepped the question, instead accusing Harris of censoring opposing viewpoints.
“That is a damning non-answer,” Walz retorted.
Walz, a 60-year-old liberal governor and former high school teacher, and Vance, a 40-year-old bestselling author and conservative senator from Ohio, portrayed themselves as representatives of America's Midwestern heartland, albeit with opposing views on pressing national issues.
Throughout the debate, the candidates tackled a variety of topics, including the Middle East crisis, immigration, taxes, abortion, climate change, and the economy. Despite the charged atmosphere of the election, they aimed to exhibit “Midwestern nice,” expressing gratitude towards each other while criticizing their running mates.
Vance questioned why Harris had not addressed pressing issues such as inflation and immigration during her tenure in Biden's administration. “If Kamala Harris has such great plans for how to address middle-class problems, then she ought to do them now,” Vance asserted.
In response, Walz characterized Trump as an unstable leader who prioritized the interests of billionaires, flipping Vance's critique on immigration. “Most of us want to solve this,” Walz stated, reminding viewers that Trump had four years to act on immigration reform.
The debate’s tone contrasted sharply with the divisive rhetoric that has characterized the campaign. Trump has made numerous derogatory remarks about Harris, and Walz previously labeled his opponents as "weird."
The debate opened with discussions about the escalating crisis in the Middle East, particularly after Israel's continued assaults on southern Lebanon and Iran's missile strikes against Israel. Walz accused Trump of being too “fickle” and sympathetic to authoritarian leaders, while Vance claimed Trump had made the world more secure during his presidency.
When asked whether he would support a preemptive strike against Iran, Vance indicated he would defer to Israel's judgment, whereas Walz did not directly answer.
Trump, watching from afar, was active on social media during the debate, criticizing CBS moderators and calling Walz “pathetic” and “low IQ.”
Political analysts note that while vice presidential debates typically do not sway election outcomes significantly, even minor shifts in public opinion could be crucial as the election approaches.
At one point, Walz addressed a report stating he had inaccurately claimed to be in China during the Tiananmen Square crackdown. “I'm a knucklehead at times,” he admitted. “I got there that summer and misspoke.”
Vance, who had previously criticized Trump during the 2016 election, defended him during the debate, stating, “I was wrong about Donald Trump. I was wrong, first of all, because I believe some of the media stories that turned out to be dishonest fabrications of his record.”
Walz also criticized Trump for appointing three Supreme Court justices who played roles in eliminating abortion rights, a hot-button issue for voters.
Vance adopted a more moderate tone regarding abortion, stating he does not support a national ban, despite his past endorsement of a proposed 15-week limit. In a recent post, Trump stated he would veto a national ban on abortion.
Despite Vance's literary success with Hillbilly Elegy, polling data shows that US voters view him unfavorably, with 51% expressing negative opinions. Conversely, Walz holds a slightly more favorable rating, with 44% of registered voters viewing him positively.
Harris is widely regarded as the winner of her debate against Trump, which was notably more chaotic than Tuesday's debate. While Harris has gained some ground in national polls, many surveys indicate a tightly contested race in the seven key states that will determine the outcome of the November election.
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