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.
Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Malaysia's sovereign credit rating at 'BBB+' with a stable outlook , reflecting the country's robust economic progress and improved political stability . Key Highlights : Positive Drivers : Strong Economic Growth : Malaysia’s economy grew by 5.3% in Q3 2024 , driven by strong domestic demand and improved external performance. Fiscal Management : The Government targets reducing the fiscal deficit to 3.8% of GDP by 2025 (from 4.3% in 2024), through subsidy rationalisation and revenue optimisation. Continuous Current Account Surplus : Bolstered by foreign direct investments (FDIs) , enhancing economic resilience. Governance Reforms : Strengthened under the Ekonomi MADANI framework , with initiatives like the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 . Government’s Commitment : Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim highlighted that the reaffirmation vali...