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Market Daily Report: Bursa Malaysia Ends Higher On Positive Sentiment, CI Up 0.83 Pct

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

New Zealand Central Bank Signals Economic Struggles Amid Rising Unemployment


The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) released a pessimistic economic outlook on Tuesday, highlighting challenges such as rising unemployment, weakened domestic activity, and delayed business investments due to financial pressures.

In its semi-annual Financial Stability Report, the RBNZ pointed to reduced demand due to subdued global growth and high interest rates. Businesses are reporting lower profitability and subdued demand, compounded by cost pressures that are impacting trade.

Key takeaways from the report include:

  • Rising Unemployment: Increasing unemployment rates are creating acute financial difficulties for some households, according to the central bank.
  • Economic Contraction: The RBNZ expects that New Zealand's economy shrank in the third quarter, as previous cash rate hikes were implemented to curb demand and reduce inflation.
  • Interest Rate Cuts: Since August, the central bank has cut the official cash rate by 75 basis points, with the goal of supporting demand recovery as inflation declines.
  • Lag in Economic Impact: RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr expressed concern over the delayed effects of interest rate adjustments, hoping to avoid any unexpected downturns during this period.

Despite these economic challenges, the RBNZ noted that New Zealand’s financial system remains stable. Banks are prepared for a slight increase in non-performing loans but remain well-positioned to support households and businesses.

Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby emphasized that New Zealand banks are capable of handling potential loan defaults, keeping financial risks contained amidst the economic slowdown.

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