KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia gave up earlier gains to end mixed today, amid a higher regional market showing, as property, construction, and healthcare counters attracted buying interests, while plantation, banking, and telecommunication stocks saw some profit-taking, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.70 points to close at 1,602.34 from yesterday’s close of 1,604.04. The benchmark index, which opened 0.86 of-a-point lower at 1,603.18, moved between 1,601.02 and 1,608.88 during the trading session. However, the broader market was mixed to higher, with gainers leading decliners by 565 to 438 while 502 counters remained unchanged, 961 untraded, and 14 suspended. Turnover narrowed to 2.83 billion units valued at RM2.08 billion versus 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the benchmark index remained range-bound and it required a dec
BHP Group, the world’s largest listed miner, is doubling down on its copper expansion strategy after reporting a better-than-expected 2% increase in annual underlying profit. The company's focus on copper aligns with its strategic emphasis on supporting the global energy transition, as demand for the metal is expected to surge. This shift comes after BHP’s unsuccessful $49 billion bid for Anglo American, which would have significantly expanded its copper portfolio. Key Takeaways: Copper Expansion as a Strategic Priority : BHP is committed to growing its copper business through existing projects in key regions like Chile, South Australia, and Argentina. The company’s copper output currently accounts for about 30% of its profits, a figure that is expected to rise significantly as BHP aims to produce over 500,000 metric tonnes annually by the early 2030s, up from 322,000 tonnes last year. The decision to focus on copper comes amid a challenging outlook for iron ore, traditionally BHP&