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...
Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) posted a surprise rebound in September, rising 6.9% year-on-year after two straight months of contraction, even as looming U.S. tariffs threaten key sectors of the economy.
The figure sharply beat economists’ expectations of a 2.0% decline and reversed from August’s 11.5% drop, according to Enterprise Singapore on Friday.
Electronics Lead the Recovery
Shipments of electronics — a cornerstone of Singapore’s manufacturing and export base — surged 30.4% year-on-year, following a 6.5% fall in August.
Non-electronics exports rose 0.4%, rebounding from a 13.3% contraction in the previous month.
Key contributors included non-monetary gold and specialized machinery, which climbed 82.7% and 14.1%respectively.
Mixed Performance Across Key Markets
Exports to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China increased in September, while shipments to the U.S., EU, and Indonesiadeclined.
For the first nine months of 2025, total NODX rose 2.2%, reflecting a modest recovery in trade momentum.
Tariff Risks Still Cloud Outlook
The trade rebound comes just days after Singapore reported slower but better-than-expected third-quarter GDP growth, supported by resilient domestic demand.
However, economists warn that higher U.S. tariffs and the resulting disruptions in global supply chains could dampen export prospects in the months ahead.
Enterprise Singapore said it is closely monitoring developments and may revise its 2025 NODX forecast to reflect changing global trade conditions.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) is scheduled to release its growth forecasts for 2025 and 2026 in November.
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