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.
Indonesian markets came under heavy pressure as escalating Middle East tensions triggered fresh capital outflows, pushing the rupiah to historic lows and sending equities toward bear-market territory. Key Takeaways Rupiah falls past Asian Financial Crisis levels Jakarta Composite Index drops 5%, nearing bear market Oil surge adds inflation pressure to net oil importer Investor confidence already shaken by ratings outlook cuts Rupiah Breaks Historic Support Indonesian rupiah weakened 0.6% to 17,015 per US dollar, slipping below its January record low and breaching levels last seen during the Asian Financial Crisis. The currency is now down 1.8% year-to-date, ranking among Asia’s worst performers. Key Point: The rupiah’s break below crisis-era levels signals deep investor anxiety. Stocks Slide Toward Bear Market Jakarta Composite Index tumbled 5%, putting the benchmark on track to enter a bear market (down 20% from recent highs). Indonesia’s equities are also...