KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher, buoyed by Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent, alongside positive cues from Wall Street. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.30 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 1,635.86 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56. The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, and fluctuated between an intraday high of 1,642.44 and a low of 1,622.62 during the trading session. However, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 723 to 497, while 466 counters were unchanged, 1,075 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.74 billion units valued at RM3.61 billion compared with yesterday’s 2.81 billion units valued at RM2.57 billion.
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...