KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia snapped its five-day winning streak to close lower on Wednesday, as investors took profit following a cumulative gain of 4.25 per cent over the past five sessions, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 14.76 points or 0.83 per cent to 1,756.49 from Tuesday’s close of 1,771.25. The market bellwether opened 1.46 points lower at 1,769.79, marking the day’s high, and hit a low of 1,750.05 during the mid-afternoon session. Market breadth was negative with losers trouncing gainers 876 to 384, while 525 counters were unchanged, 964 untraded and 94 suspended. Turnover improved to 3.65 billion units worth RM4.41 billion from Tuesday's 3.58 billion units worth RM4.46 billion.
Gold is heading for a weekly decline, with prices down 1.6% as optimism over 2025 Federal Reserve rate cutswanes. Despite trading above US$2,605 per ounce, the precious metal faces pressure from hawkish signals and resilient US economic data.
Key Highlights
1. Fed’s Rate-Cut Outlook
- The Fed reduced rates on Wednesday but hinted at a cautious approach to further cuts.
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the need for “more progress on inflation” before additional easing.
- Lower rates typically benefit gold, as it doesn’t pay interest, but the current monetary stance has tempered expectations.
2. Economic Data Weighs on Gold
- US GDP Data: Thursday’s report showed resilient economic growth and consumer spending revised up to 2.2%, reducing urgency for rate cuts.
- Traders now await the November Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data, a critical inflation indicator, due Friday.
3. Gold’s 2024 Rally Stalls
- 2024 Performance: Gold surged 26% this year, supported by:
- Monetary easing in the US.
- Safe-haven demand amid global uncertainties.
- Sustained central bank buying.
- The rally paused in November as Donald Trump’s election victory boosted the US dollar, pressuring gold prices.
4. Market Challenges Ahead
- ANZ Group Analysis: Analysts highlighted a potential headwind from weakening physical demand in India, a key gold market.
- The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 1.2% over three sessions, further weighing on gold prices.
Other Precious Metals
- Silver: Steady.
- Palladium: Unchanged.
- Platinum: Declined.
Comments
Post a Comment