KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended lower on the final trading day of the week, weighed down by the plantation sector as investors locked in gains following its recent strong performance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 7.03 points 1,708.10, compared with yesterday’s close of 1,715.13. The benchmark index opened 1.39 points lower at 1,713.74 and fluctuated between 1,704.86 and 1,715.20 throughout the day. The broader market was negative with losers outnumbering gainers 568 to 523, while 596 counters were unchanged, 1,085 untraded and 19 suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.33 billion units valued at RM2.98 billion from 3.90 billion units valued at RM3.21 billion on Thursday.
Chinese banking stocks outperformed the broader market on Friday after reports that regulators may relax shareholder restrictions , potentially unlocking new capital inflows and boosting sector sentiment. Policy Shift Could Unlock Capital Raising China’s National Financial Regulatory Administration is reportedly considering allowing shareholders to hold stakes of 5% or more in up to four banks , up from the current limit of two. Such a move would: Expand capital-raising options for banks Encourage private placements and equity issuance Broaden the investor base across the sector Bank Stocks Show Relative Strength Despite weakness in the broader market: The CSI300 Index fell 1% at open The CSI Banks Index declined only 0.3% and later stabilised This highlights defensive strength and investor interest in bank stocks amid policy support expectations. Institutional Demand Could Increase Analysts see the potential rule change ...