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: Asian stocks face pressure as doubts about Federal Reserve easing persist , fueled by concerns over inflation risks from Trump’s fiscal and trade policies. Most Asian markets are poised for a soft opening on Monday, with futures in Australia, Japan, and mainland China pointing to losses , while Hong Kong shows marginal gains. This follows a 1.3% drop in US stocks on Friday , which erased more than half of their post-election rally. Inflation Fears and Fed Policy: Investors are grappling with the possibility that Trump’s tariffs and tax cuts could reignite inflation , complicating the Federal Reserve’s easing cycle. Odds of a December rate cut are now less than 50%, with analysts predicting a slower pace of easing in 2025 . Shane Oliver, AMP Ltd’s chief economist, noted, “Trump’s policies pose upside risks to inflation over the next 1-3 years, making additional Fed cuts uncertain.” Asian Market Snapshot: Japan: Traders will monitor a speech by BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda ...