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.
China’s trade volumes surged to record levels at the start of 2026, but escalating tensions in the Middle East now pose fresh risks to global shipping and export momentum. Key Takeaways China’s trade volumes surged above last year’s record levels before the Iran conflict erupted. Over 59 million containers were processed in the first nine weeks of 2026, up more than 12% year-on-year. Escalating tensions around Iran now threaten Middle East demand and global shipping routes. Record Container Throughput in Early 2026 More than 59 million containers moved through Chinese ports in the first nine weeks of the year — up over 12% year-on-year , according to the Ministry of Transport. The strong start extended the export surge seen in late 2025, when total outbound shipments reached US$3.8 trillion , a record high. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. noted that freight volumes from 20 major Chinese ports also exceeded 2025 levels. Key Point: China’s trade momentum was acceler...