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.
Key Highlights: Profitability Outlook Asia Pacific airlines are expected to see a slight uptick in net profit margin to 1.4% in 2025 , up from 1.3% in 2024 , supported by strong demand and rising load factors . The global average net profit margin for airlines is projected at 3.6% , with revenue per passenger reaching US$7 , compared to US$1.80 in Asia Pacific. Regional Performance The region continues to lag behind global recovery, with international revenue per kilometre still below pre-pandemic levels . China's slow travel rebound , accounting for 40% of Asia Pacific's traffic , remains a major drag. However, double-digit growth in demand and capacity is anticipated for 2025, driven by a low base of passenger recovery . Over the long term (2023–2043), Asia Pacific international traffic is forecast to grow 5.6% annually , slightly below ASEAN's 6.1...