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...
Expanding White House Control
President Donald Trump has been taking unprecedented steps to exert direct control over private companies — an approach more commonly seen in economic crises. His administration has negotiated ownership stakes, revenue-sharing deals, and veto power over corporate actions.
So far, investors have mostly benefited, though the long-term outlook remains uncertain.
Government-Backed Companies and Market Reactions
Intel (INTC)
The U.S. government took a 10% stake in Intel after Trump pressured its CEO to resign.
Since the deal in August, Intel’s shares have risen 24%, far outpacing the S&P 500’s 1.8% gain in the same period.
MP Materials (MP)
The Department of Defense bought 15% of the rare earths miner.
Shares have doubled since the news of government involvement, making rare earths one of the biggest winners.
Lithium Americas
Currently in talks with the government for a deal similar to MP’s.
Stock prices surged on speculation, though terms remain under negotiation.
Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
The White House announced that both firms would provide the U.S. government with 15% of revenues from China chip sales.
Both stocks fell after the announcement. Uncertainty increased when China banned many chip sales in September, undercutting the deal’s premise.
U.S. Steel (via Nippon Steel acquisition)
Trump approved Nippon Steel’s purchase of U.S. Steel only after securing veto power over certain corporate actions.
In mid-September, the White House forced Nippon Steel to reverse a decision to idle a U.S. Steel plant in Illinois, citing risks to domestic capacity.
Policy Over Profit
Officials have made clear that these stakes are not about maximizing returns:
“It’s not like we’re trying to set up a hedge fund … We want to make sure that if we’re intervening to help an American company, taxpayers can reap the upside,” a White House official said.
The emphasis is on national security and industrial capacity, even if that overrides purely business-driven decisions.
Takeaway for Investors
Winners: Intel, MP Materials, and potentially Lithium Americas, as government support bolsters their strategic relevance.
Losers: Nvidia and AMD, caught in the crossfire of U.S.-China trade and tech restrictions.
Mixed Case: U.S. Steel — political influence keeps plants open but adds uncertainty over corporate autonomy.
Trump’s interventions are reshaping U.S. industrial policy, creating both opportunities and risks for investors depending on sector exposure.
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