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.
In a world where global trade is increasingly uncertain — tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and fragmented supply chains — ASEAN and China are moving in the opposite direction: toward deeper economic integration. The upcoming signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 (ACFTA 3.0) is a significant development that investors shouldn't overlook. Let’s unpack what this means and where the investment opportunities lie. What Is ACFTA 3.0? The original ASEAN-China Free Trade Area was established in 2010. It covers one of the largest consumer markets globally , spanning over 2 billion people . With the ACFTA 3.0 upgrade scheduled for later this year , the agreement will enhance: Tariff elimination Supply chain integration Investment flows Digital and green economy collaboration The timing is crucial, as countries in the region brace for volatility triggered by US trade actions and slowing global growth. Who Stands to Gain? Here are a few s...