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.
Profit Trails Consensus; Analysts Turn Cautious Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (KL:F&N) shares dropped nearly 3% to RM27.90, a two-month low, after its third-quarter net profit came in at only 68% of consensus full-year estimates , prompting analysts to temper expectations. The miss has ended the stock’s streak of unanimous ‘buy’ calls, with CIMB Securities downgrading to ‘hold’ citing muted earnings prospects and stretched valuations after a six-month rally. Key Factors Driving Sentiment Earnings Miss: Weaker international sales dragged results below forecasts. Valuation Concerns: Recent price gains have priced in its defensive business model. Guidance: Analysts expect a “flattish” 4Q on softer exports despite stronger Malaysian margins. Stock Performance Price: Fell 72 sen to RM27.90, lowest since June 11. Year-to-Date: Up ~15% since February, outperforming the broader market amid tariff headwinds. Analyst Views Split Five of six re...