KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
Key Takeaway:
South Korea's stock market surged as hopes rose that long-awaited corporate governance reforms could soon pass, potentially reducing the persistent "Korea discount" and boosting shareholder value.
Money Master Take / Insight:
The Korean market's decades-long underperformance relative to global peers may finally be turning a corner. With the ruling and opposition parties showing alignment on reforming the Commercial Act, investors are seeing this as a rare opportunity for systemic change. If passed, the revised law would hold board members accountable to all shareholders, not just controlling families — a game-changer in the world of Korean chaebols.
Watch the holding companies (SK Inc., Hanwha, LS Corp.): These are early indicators of confidence and could become the frontline beneficiaries of governance reform-driven re-rating.
Bottom Line:
The Kospi jumped nearly 2% and is now up 30% YTD, outperforming most Asian markets. Backed by rising semiconductor exports and a rare bipartisan push for reform, Korean equities are riding a powerful wave of optimism. If the reforms pass, foreign and institutional interest could accelerate, and the undervaluation gap may start to close for real.
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