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.
Quick Summary China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the ninth straight month 1-year LPR stays at 3.0% , 5-year LPR at 3.5% Authorities prefer targeted tools over broad rate cuts Growth expected to slow to 4.5% in 2026 What Happened China left its benchmark Loan Prime Rates (LPRs) unchanged in February: 1-year LPR: 3.0% 5-year LPR: 3.5% The decision marks the ninth consecutive month of steady rates , suggesting policymakers are not in a hurry to roll out fresh broad-based stimulus . The rates are set by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) . Why No Immediate Cuts? While China hit its ~5% growth target in 2025 , largely thanks to strong exports, several headwinds persist: Structural imbalances Industrial overcapacity Weak domestic consumption Rising geopolitical tensions A Reuters poll forecasts growth slowing to 4.5% in 2026 . Key point: Policymakers appear to be conserving policy ...