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.
Singapore will roll out a Business Adaptation Grant in October 2025 to help companies adjust to rising tariffs under US President Donald Trump’s trade measures, the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT) announced.
What’s in the Grant?
Cap: S$100,000 (≈US$78,000) per company
Co-funding model: SMEs likely to receive higher co-funding support than MNCs
Duration: Support available for up to 2 years
Who Is Eligible?
Exporters or overseas operators impacted by new tariffs
Firms needing reconfiguration support, including logistics or inventory cost adjustments
Eligible activities include:
Advisory on free trade agreements, legal contracts, and trade compliance
Help with supply chain restructuring and market diversification
More details will be announced closer to the October launch.
Context and Reactions
Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng emphasized the need to protect SMEs, which employ two-thirds of Singapore’s workforce.
Minister for Digital Development Josephine Teo noted some companies are taking a “wait-and-see” approach, while others have paused major investment decisions.
Teo Siong Seng, Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation, welcomed the grant, saying it empowers companies to take “decisive first steps” in restructuring their operations.
Aug 1 Tariff Deadline Looms
President Trump has begun issuing tariff notices to multiple countries — Malaysia (25%) and Indonesia (32%) among them. Although Singapore has not yet received a notice, Deputy PM Gan Kim Yong warned that the situation remains fluid.
He added that Singapore is actively negotiating with the US, particularly over pharmaceutical tariffs, and will continue efforts to stabilize trade. He also expects economic growth to slow over the next 6–12 months once frontloaded exports taper off.
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