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.
With technology stocks trading near record valuations, Citi strategists argue that investors should look beyond the sector for the next leg of growth. Their “Thematic 30” Recommended List , recently updated, highlights non-tech companies in healthcare, industrials, financials, and consumer that combine earnings growth with reasonable valuations. Why Look Beyond Tech? Tech valuations stretched : The S&P 500 tech sector trades at 27x forward earnings , near the high end of its range since 2022. PEG ratio elevated : At ~2x PEG (P/E-to-growth), tech leaves limited upside unless growth expectations accelerate. Rotation opportunity : Non-tech sectors offer similar or stronger growth at lower relative valuations. Citi’s Screening Criteria Participation in structural themes – e.g., digital payments, medical innovation, advanced industrials, or contactless consumer trends. Growth in line or above S&P 500 – analysts forecast ~10% EPS growth for the S...