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.
Indonesian markets came under heavy pressure as escalating Middle East tensions triggered fresh capital outflows, pushing the rupiah to historic lows and sending equities toward bear-market territory. Key Takeaways Rupiah falls past Asian Financial Crisis levels Jakarta Composite Index drops 5%, nearing bear market Oil surge adds inflation pressure to net oil importer Investor confidence already shaken by ratings outlook cuts Rupiah Breaks Historic Support Indonesian rupiah weakened 0.6% to 17,015 per US dollar, slipping below its January record low and breaching levels last seen during the Asian Financial Crisis. The currency is now down 1.8% year-to-date, ranking among Asia’s worst performers. Key Point: The rupiah’s break below crisis-era levels signals deep investor anxiety. Stocks Slide Toward Bear Market Jakarta Composite Index tumbled 5%, putting the benchmark on track to enter a bear market (down 20% from recent highs). Indonesia’s equities are also...