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.
Penang’s critical E&E export hub is bracing for turbulence , as a looming 25% US tariff threatens to shrink air cargo volumes and slow semiconductor trade just as global demand begins to recover. Why It Matters: Penang International Airport, Malaysia’s largest air cargo hub, handles 70% of the country’s air shipments — mainly finished and semi-finished semiconductors. With 60% of Malaysia’s exports to the US comprising electrical and electronic (E&E) products , the impact could be widespread. Air cargo volume may shrink by 15% in 2025 as shipments to the US drop. “When the industry is affected, the volume of cargo handled also drops correspondingly,” — Ali Ahmad, Penang Freight Forwarders Association What Triggered This? Earlier this month, the US imposed a 25% import tariff on all Malaysian goods , effective August 1 . While negotiations are underway, semiconductor-specific tariffs may still apply separately — cr...