MONEY MASTER

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rebounded to end higher today with the benchmark FBM KLCI reclaiming the 1,700 psychological level, supported by improved global sentiment after US President Donald Trump signalled a potential de-escalation of the Iran conflict, alongside Malaysia’s stronger Industrial Production Index (IPI) data. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 27.51 points, or 1.64 per cent, to 1,701.68 from yesterday’s close of 1,674.17.  The benchmark index opened 10.68 points higher at 1,684.85, its lowest point today, and hit a high of 1,703.61 in the late afternoon session.  Market breadth was positive, with gainers thumping losers 929 to 382. A total of 361 counters were unchanged, 982 untraded and 19 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.60 billion units worth RM3.75 billion from yesterday’s 5.52 billion units worth RM5.87 billion.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed broadly lower today in line with widespread selling across regional markets as the intensifying conflict in the Middle East dampened investor sentiment and reignited concerns over global inflation.  At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 43.89 points, or 2.56 per cent, to close at 1,674.17 from last Friday’s close of 1,718.06.  The benchmark index, which opened 18.93 points lower at 1,699.13, moved between 1,664.07 and 1,702.77 during the day.  In the broader market, losers trounced gainers 1,141 to 283, while 308 counters were unchanged, 900 untraded, and 33 suspended. Turnover expanded to 5.52 billion units worth RM5.87 billion from last Friday’s 3.71 billion units worth RM4.05 billion.

US stock futures tumbled as oil surged past US$100 per barrel, reviving  stagflation fears  and threatening to derail expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. The renewed Middle East escalation — coupled with production cuts from major Gulf producers — is pushing energy prices sharply higher and rattling global markets. Key Takeaways S&P 500 futures fall 1.1% after worst weekly drop since October Brent crude jumps 13% to US$104 per barrel Volatility index (VIX) climbs above 30 Strategists raise probability of market “meltdown” to 35% Inflation data this week becomes critical for rate outlook Futures Extend Selloff S&P 500 futures: -1.1% Nasdaq 100 futures: -1.1% Brent crude: +13% to US$104 Oil production cuts announced by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq The spike in oil is amplifying fears that inflation could re-accelerate just as markets were hoping for easing monetary policy. Key Point: Sustained oil above US$100 raises the risk of inflation staying higher fo...

Corporate borrowers are pressing pause on bond sales as rising oil prices and a prolonged Middle East conflict push credit risk sharply higher. A spike in credit-default insurance costs signals growing investor concern about  slowing growth and rising inflation  — a toxic mix for corporate balance sheets. Key Takeaways European bond issuance delayed as credit spreads widen Investment-grade and junk credit risk gauges jump to multi-month highs US Treasury yields rise to 4.21%, rate-cut bets trimmed Private credit stress adds to market anxiety Credit Insurance Costs Jump In Europe: The iTraxx investment-grade index hit its highest level since May The junk-rated Crossover index crossed 300 basis points for the first time since June In Asia: Credit default swaps on investment-grade debt widened 9 basis points — the biggest move in 11 months Key Point: The surge in credit spreads reflects mounting fears of a prolonged oil-driven economic slowdown. Borrowers Delay Debt Sales Several...

Prediction markets like  Kalshi Inc  and  Polymarket  are moving beyond sports and geopolitics — and into Wall Street territory. Their latest push? Allowing traders to place  binary bets on where the  S&P 500 Index  will end the year. Key Takeaways Prediction markets now offer S&P 500 milestone contracts Retail traders can place simple $1 payout bets Volume growing, but still tiny vs traditional options market Regulatory oversight remains unclear Institutional liquidity providers are already involved How the Bet Works Unlike traditional options, these contracts are simple: Traders buy contracts that pay  $1 if an event happens A contract priced at $0.04 = 4% probability If correct, payout is $1 per contract Example: 4-cent contract on S&P finishing 8,000–8,200 $2,190 bet could return nearly $44,000 In contrast, traditional options require: Understanding volatility Managing time decay Calculating spreads Navigating daily P&L swings ...

Shares of  NVIDIA Corp  fell in premarket trading as escalating Middle East tensions raised concerns about energy costs and broader semiconductor supply chain risks. Key Takeaways Nvidia fell 1.3% in premarket; down 4.7% YTD Chip stocks broadly weaker amid oil shock fears Main risk is rising energy costs, not direct production shutdowns Asian semiconductor suppliers hit hardest Chip Sector Under Pressure Advanced Micro Devices Inc.  and  Broadcom Inc.  both declined in premarket trading. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.  dropped over 4% in Taiwan trading. Key Point: The immediate threat is not factory shutdowns — it’s higher energy and transportation costs squeezing margins. Semiconductor fabrication facilities are extremely energy intensive. Sustained increases in electricity and fuel costs could materially impact production economics. Asia Bears the Brunt Asian chip suppliers have fallen sharply due to heavy reliance on Middle East energy flows thro...

Malaysia’s benchmark index tumbled sharply on March 9 as escalating Middle East tensions and surging oil prices triggered heavy selling across the broader market. Market Snapshot (March 9, 2026) FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI  closed at  1,674.17 , down  2.55% Other key indices: FBM Mid 70: -2.11% FBM Small Cap: -1.96% FBM ACE: -4.39% Market breadth turned decisively negative: 283 gainers vs 1,142 losers Total volume: 5.516 billion shares Total value: RM5.866 billion Key Point: Selling was broad-based, with losers outnumbering gainers nearly 4-to-1. Ringgit Performance USD/MYR: 3.9675 YTD change: +2.33% Despite equity weakness, the ringgit remained relatively stable against the US dollar. Top Movers in KLCI Gainers: Sime Darby Bhd  +3.39% IOI Corp Bhd  +1.79% Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd  +1.14% Decliners: YTL Corp Bhd  -6.94% Gamuda Bhd  -5.54% PETRONAS Gas Bhd  -4.13% Most Active Stocks Among the most traded counters: Velesto Energy Bhd AirAsia X Bhd ...

Indonesian markets came under heavy pressure as escalating Middle East tensions triggered fresh capital outflows, pushing the rupiah to historic lows and sending equities toward bear-market territory. Key Takeaways Rupiah falls past Asian Financial Crisis levels Jakarta Composite Index drops 5%, nearing bear market Oil surge adds inflation pressure to net oil importer Investor confidence already shaken by ratings outlook cuts Rupiah Breaks Historic Support Indonesian rupiah  weakened 0.6% to 17,015 per US dollar, slipping below its January record low and breaching levels last seen during the Asian Financial Crisis. The currency is now down 1.8% year-to-date, ranking among Asia’s worst performers. Key Point: The rupiah’s break below crisis-era levels signals deep investor anxiety.  Stocks Slide Toward Bear Market Jakarta Composite Index  tumbled 5%, putting the benchmark on track to enter a  bear market  (down 20% from recent highs). Indonesia’s equities are also...

South Korean equities were hammered again as escalating Iran war risks and oil prices above US$100 triggered aggressive foreign selling and fresh inflation fears. Key Takeaways Kospi plunged nearly 8% Monday after 11% drop last week Samsung and SK Hynix fell over 9% each Foreign investors dumped over 1 trillion won in one morning Oil above US$100 raises inflation and tightening risks Margin debt surge increases liquidation risk Korea Leads Asia’s Selloff KOSPI  dropped nearly 8%, extending last week’s 11% slide. Tech heavyweights were hit hardest: Samsung Electronics Co  -9%+ SK Hynix Inc  -9%+ Key Point: Korea’s AI-driven rally made it especially vulnerable to a sharp unwind. The Kospi is still up more than 20% year-to-date, but heavy positioning and leveraged bets have amplified the downside move. Oil Above US$100 Triggers Inflation Fear Crude Oil  has surged past US$100 per barrel. South Korea, a net energy importer, is highly exposed to higher fuel costs via: Man...

Japanese equities suffered their  worst selloff since April , as surging oil prices and intensifying Middle East tensions rattled investors already shaken by weak US jobs data. Key Takeaways Nikkei 225 fell as much as 6.9% — biggest drop since April Oil surged above  US$110 per barrel Japan highly vulnerable due to 90% oil import reliance Market now in  technical correction territory  (down over 10% from recent peak) Japanese Stocks Hit Hard Nikkei 225  plunged up to 6.9% TOPIX  fell as much as 5.7% Tech and electronics names led declines: SoftBank Group Corp Advantest Corp The selloff comes after oil surged past  US$110 , as major producers curb output and conflict around Iran enters its ninth day. Key Point: Oil above US$110 is triggering sharp risk-off moves in energy-import dependent markets like Japan. Why Japan Is Especially Exposed Japan imports roughly  90% of its oil from the Middle East , making it one of the most vulnerable economies to...

Bank Negara Malaysia kept its policy rate unchanged as global markets swung on rising oil prices, while Bursa Malaysia staged a rebound on bargain hunting despite geopolitical uncertainty. Key Takeaways US stocks tumbled as oil surged 7.5% on Middle East tensions FBM KLCI climbed 0.88% on bargain hunting Bank Negara maintained OPR at 2.75% Inflation remains moderate, giving BNM room to stay neutral Wall Street: Oil Spike Triggers Selloff Nasdaq Composite  22,669.91 (-0.6%) S&P 500 Index  6,814.48 (-0.8%) Dow Jones Industrial Average  47,890.61 (-1.7%) Crude Oil Futures  jumped 7.5% to US$80.24 per barrel after reports that Iran struck an oil tanker, escalating fears of supply disruption. The Strait of Hormuz — which handles roughly 20% of global oil supply — remains the focal point of risk following US-Israel airstrikes on Iran. Cryptocurrencies also retreated: Bitcoin  -3% Ethereum  -3.7% Key Point: Oil volatility is reviving inflation fears and pressu...

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index ended the week slightly higher, driven by strong buying interest in Petronas Chemicals, which surged by more than 20 per cent as investors viewed it as a potential beneficiary of the Iran crisis due to its domestic feedstock supply and cost advantages.  Petronas Chemicals surged 78 sen, or 22.2 per cent, to RM4.29, contributing 10.3 points to the index’s advance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 4.86 points, or 0.28 per cent, to close at 1,718.06 from Thursday’s close of 1,713.20.  The benchmark index opened 0.60 of-a-point lower at 1,712.60 and moved between 1,708.48 and 1,719.95 throughout the session.  On the broader market, losers beat gainers by 675 to 411, while 518 counters were unchanged, 1,018 untraded, and 22 suspended. Turnover expanded to 3.71 billion units worth RM4.05 billion from Thursday...

US retailers are scrambling to adjust their strategies as tariff rules shift again, adding fresh uncertainty to consumer spending and profit outlooks in 2026. Key Takeaways Tariff rate raised to 15% after Supreme Court ruling Retailers warn of “policy whiplash” complicating planning Companies reluctant to raise prices amid cautious consumers Middle East tensions add new shipping and fuel cost risks Tariff Landscape Shifts Again The US government lifted temporary import levies to  15% , up from 10%, after the Supreme Court struck down emergency duties. Retailers say the bigger problem isn’t just higher tariffs — it’s unpredictability. Key Point: Policy volatility, not just tariff levels, is the main risk for retailers. Companies can plan for higher costs — but not for rules that change week to week. Who Is Most Affected? Abercrombie & Fitch Factored the 15% tariff into forecasts Estimated 70 basis-point hit (~US$40 million) Previously projected US$90 million impact Best Buy Heav...