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.
Japan's factory output dropped sharply in August, casting doubt on the country's economic recovery trajectory. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reported a 3.3% decline in industrial output from the previous month, significantly worse than the expected 0.9% drop . The fall was primarily driven by typhoon-related disruptions in motor vehicle production and weak US sales, highlighting challenges for Japan's export-reliant economy. Motor vehicle production plummeted 10.6% in August, as Typhoon Shanshan forced several automakers to suspend operations. Certification scandals also contributed to the decline, with production halts for three domestic models. Analysts attributed part of the slump to weak auto sales in the US . The production machinery sector also took a hit, with chip-making machinery production falling 18.7% month-on-month, largely due to weaker overseas demand, particularly a sharp drop in exports to Taiwan . Although manufacturers are ...