KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
The first half of 2025 saw ETFs navigating a minefield of rate cut speculation, geopolitical flashpoints, and commodity swings. Three standout signals emerged:
1️⃣ Gold Miners & Hedging Plays: Gold above $3,500/oz drove leveraged gold mining ETFs sharply higher. Retail traders piled in, but expect volatility ahead if rates stay elevated.
2️⃣ Defense & Security Theme: Defense ETFs rallied amid Middle East tension and NATO budget increases. Consider them for portfolio diversification with geopolitical tailwinds.
3️⃣ Asia Tech Revival: South Korean-focused ETFs outperformed as semiconductor exports rebounded. Policy stability and tech momentum could keep this trade alive into 2H.
Money Master Take:
Stay nimble. Gold & defense offer hedge potential but are prone to sharp reversals.
Asia tech exposure could reward long-term holders if earnings momentum continues.
Big flows into low-cost Vanguard broad beta ETFs highlight a steady shift to passive core holdings despite market noise.
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