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.
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...