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.
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...