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.
Bursa Malaysia posted its strongest gain since May, with the FBM KLCI surging 1.33% to 1,533.35, lifted by Washington’s move to slash tariffs on Malaysian exports to 19% and the unveiling of the ambitious 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030).
Wall Street Recap
S&P 500: 6,238.01 (▼ 1.60%)
Dow Jones: 43,588.58 (▼ 1.23%)
Nasdaq Composite: 26,650.13 (▼ 2.24%)
US stocks slumped on disappointing jobs and manufacturing data, with the VIX index topping 20 as investor fears mounted. Amazon plunged 8.27% on weak earnings, while Coinbase tumbled 16.7% after missing revenue estimates.
Bursa Market Highlights
FBM KLCI: 1,533.35 (+1.33%)
Top Gainer: Gamuda RM5.40 (+4.25%)
Top Loser: PChem RM3.80 (▼ 2.06%)
USD/MYR: 4.2775 (+0.29%)
Strong buying momentum followed the tariff cut and economic roadmap announcement. Gamuda led gains with a 4.25% jump, while Tenaga and CIMB also boosted the index. Trading volume hit 3.16 billion shares worth RM2.22 billion, with gainers outpacing losers.
13th Malaysia Plan: Key Drivers
Total Investment: RM611 billion
GDP Growth Target: 4.5%–5.5% annually
Focus Sectors: Healthcare, consumer goods, energy interconnectivity, water infrastructure
Goal: Elevate Malaysia to high-income status by 2030
If implemented effectively, the plan is expected to generate structural tailwinds for key industries and attract foreign investment.
Outlook
The combination of reduced US tariffs and Malaysia’s long-term development blueprint has injected fresh confidence into the market. Analysts see further upside if the positive momentum holds, especially for infrastructure, utilities, and consumer-driven sectors.
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