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.
The electronics manufacturing services (EMS) sector in Malaysia has seen mixed performance in 2024 despite being part of the broader tech upcycle, with rising costs, inflation, and supply chain disruptions offsetting growth from increased global demand and outsourcing trends. Key EMS Performances Winners : SKP Resources Bhd (+76% YTD) V.S. Industry Bhd (+47% YTD) NationGate Holdings Bhd (+51% YTD) P.I.E. Industrial Bhd (+29% YTD) Strugglers : ATA IMS Bhd (-8% YTD) JHM Consolidation Bhd (-36% YTD) Growth Drivers and Challenges Diversification Opportunities : The China+1 and Taiwan+1 strategies have positioned Malaysian EMS players to gain market share. However, reliance on major customers, such as Dyson, continues to be a concern. Cost Pressures : High inflation and production costs have affected profit margins. Company Highlights SKP Resources : Recorded a 27% y-o-y net profit increase , benefiting from a recovery in consumer demand. V.S. Indust...