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
Most Asian markets are poised for a soft opening on Monday, with futures in Australia, Japan, and mainland China pointing to losses, while Hong Kong shows marginal gains. This follows a 1.3% drop in US stocks on Friday, which erased more than half of their post-election rally.
Inflation Fears and Fed Policy:
Investors are grappling with the possibility that Trump’s tariffs and tax cuts could reignite inflation, complicating the Federal Reserve’s easing cycle. Odds of a December rate cut are now less than 50%, with analysts predicting a slower pace of easing in 2025.
Shane Oliver, AMP Ltd’s chief economist, noted, “Trump’s policies pose upside risks to inflation over the next 1-3 years, making additional Fed cuts uncertain.”
Asian Market Snapshot:
- Japan: Traders will monitor a speech by BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda on Monday, with markets anticipating potential rate hikes amid yen weakness.
- China: Loan prime rates are expected to remain unchanged following October’s cut.
- Indonesia: Bank Indonesia’s rate decision is under focus as the rupiah nears 16,000 per dollar, a critical level for currency stability.
Key Market Moves:
Currencies:
- Euro steady at $1.0530
- Japanese yen down 0.1% to 154.49 per dollar
- Offshore yuan stable at 7.2399 per dollar
- Australian dollar steady at $0.6464
Bonds:
- Australia’s 10-year yield fell 3 basis points to 4.61%
Cryptocurrencies:
- Bitcoin up 0.5% to $89,622.5
- Ether up 0.8% to $3,086.6
Stocks:
- Nikkei 225 futures dropped 1.6%
- Hang Seng futures up 0.2%
- S&P/ASX 200 futures down 0.3%
Key Events This Week:
- Monday: BOJ Governor Ueda’s speech, G20 Summit begins in Brazil, EU foreign ministers meet.
- Wednesday: China loan prime rates, Indonesia rate decision, Nvidia earnings, ECB financial stability review.
- Friday: Japan CPI, India PMI, Eurozone and UK PMI, US consumer sentiment.
As markets remain sensitive to inflationary risks and central bank policies, this week’s events, including BOJ updates and Nvidia’s earnings, are expected to shape the near-term outlook for global and Asian equities.
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