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.
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...