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.
Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia (SME Bank) has projected Malaysia's GDP growth to range between 4.5% and 5% in 2025, supported by the robust Madani Economy framework and a positive economic outlook. Key Highlights : 2024 Growth Performance : Malaysia’s GDP grew 5.1% in 2024, exceeding the bank’s forecast of 4.3% to 5.3% . The growth was driven by strong household spending , favourable labor market conditions , robust investment , and a recovery in external trade . 2025 Growth Outlook : SME Bank’s Acting CEO, Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim , expects GDP growth for 2025 to remain strong, between 4.5% and 5% , continuing the positive momentum seen in 2024. Sectoral Growth : The construction sector is anticipated to lead in 2025 with double-digit growth, building on its strong performance since 2023. The manufacturing sector is a...