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.
European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers are shifting their focus from inflation to weak economic growth, as the Eurozone struggles with stagnation and looming trade risks from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs. Key Concerns for the ECB Economic Stagnation: Portuguese central bank chief Mario Centeno warned that the economy is stagnating with "risks accumulating downwards." He highlighted Trump’s tariff threats as a potential downside risk to growth. Interest Rates Outlook: The ECB has already cut interest rates three times in 2024. Investors expect further reductions at every policy meeting until mid-2025 , as the bloc teeters on the edge of recession. Growth Becoming a Priority: ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos emphasized that growth, rather than inflation, is now the bank’s top concern . He cautioned that tariffs could trigger a “vicious cycle” of retaliatory trade wars , harming global...