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.
Markets are treading cautiously this Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats against the EU and Mexico spark fresh uncertainty in global trade. Despite that, the sell-off remains mild — a sign that investors might see it as more bark than bite... for now.
What Happened?
Trump announced a 30% tariff on most imports from the European Union and Mexico, starting Aug 1, unless trade talks progress.
The EU responded by extending its suspension of countermeasures until early August — hoping diplomacy still wins.
German finance officials, however, hinted at retaliation if the tariffs go ahead.
Market Reaction
Wall Street futures slipped:
S&P 500 Futures: -0.4%
Nasdaq Futures: -0.4%
EU Futures showed more stress:
EUROSTOXX 50: -0.6%
DAX: -0.7%
Asia took a lighter hit:
MSCI Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan): -0.1%
Nikkei: flat
China Blue Chips: +0.2% (boosted by strong export data)
🧠 “The muted reaction shows either market resilience or just plain complacency,” says Taylor Nugent of NAB.
Earnings Season Outlook
U.S. banks lead the earnings season this week.
Q2 EPS growth forecast cut to 5.8% (was 10.2% back in April).
BofA expects only a modest 2% beat, citing a low bar.
Macro Signals to Watch
Inflation Data (Tuesday): Could reflect early tariff impacts.
Retail Sales: Key to assessing consumer strength.
Producer/Import Prices: May reveal supply chain cost pressures.
Bonds & Currencies
10-year U.S. Treasury yields steady at 4.41%
Fed futures pricing in slightly more cuts for 2026.
Trump increases pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, even hinting at removal.
FX & Crypto Moves
EUR/USD: ↓ 0.1% to 1.1675
USD/MXN: ↑ 0.3% to 18.67
Bitcoin: 🚀 Broke past US$120K, hitting US$121,207.55
Commodities
Gold: +0.1% to US$3,359 (mild safe haven bid)
Brent Oil: +0.2% to US$70.49
WTI Crude: +0.1% to US$68.55
Traders watching for new Russia sanctions
Money Master Take
Markets are learning to live with Trump's trade tantrums — but that doesn't mean investors should ignore the risks. As we near the Aug 1 tariff deadline, expect volatility to rise. Safe havens like gold and crypto are back in focus, while earnings season will test market sentiment. Keep your portfolio flexible and your eyes on the news.
Risk-on optimism might fade fast — especially if tariffs go from talk to action.
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