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.
Key Takeaway The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to keep interest rates unchanged this week, but markets are far more worried about France’s deepening political turmoil , which could spill over into the eurozone’s economic outlook. France in Focus Political Uncertainty: Prime Minister Francois Bayrou faces a confidence vote he looks set to lose. If his government falls, President Emmanuel Macron must step in, raising fresh doubts over France’s fiscal repair plans. Investor Concern: France’s instability is drawing scrutiny from global markets. Fitch Ratings, which already has a negative outlook on France, will review its rating on Friday—another potential flashpoint. ECB’s Dilemma Policy Hold Expected: ECB officials will almost certainly leave rates unchanged in Frankfurt this week. Muted Guidance: Policymakers agreed in July to stay “deliberately uninformative” about the next move, reflecting uncertainty over inflation ...