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.
The FBM KLCI gained 8.62 points or 0.5%, tracking Asian shares' rise as the ringgit strengthened with crude oil. At the 5pm closing bell, the KLCI settled at 1,654.84 points while the ringgit strengthened to 3.9967 against the US dollar. The KLCI and ringgit gained as Asian shares recovered from the immediate impact of the UK's European Union exit (Brexit) decision. In China, the Shanghai Composite rose 1.91%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.27% and Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.6%. Reuters reported that Hong Kong stocks climbed on Monday for a third straight session of gains, as higher commodity prices and hopes of more stimulus measures from Beijing boosted resources shares, and investors built up positions amid ample liquidity in the market. Oil prices rose on Monday following comments from the Saudi energy minister that the market was heading towards balance, although signs of slowing demand in Asia weighed. Brent crude futures were trading at ...