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.
Market Highlights Nikkei 225 rose +2.1% to a record 42,715.72 , breaking the previous peak of 42,426.77 (July 11, 2024). Topix also hit a new all-time high, extending a rally that began July 24. Gains driven by tech stocks : SoftBank Group +6.7% after reports it’s selecting banks for a US IPO of PayPay . Advantest and Lasertec +5%+ each on semiconductor strength. Drivers & Context Global Momentum – Nikkei follows the S&P 500 and MSCI World Index, which hit record highs since June, boosted by AI enthusiasm . Catch-Up Rally – Earlier lag due to weak chip and auto stocks; recent tech rebound pushed Nikkei past resistance. SoftBank Catalyst – IPO of PayPay seen as a major liquidity event; could boost SoftBank’s tech portfolio value. Caution Flags Tech-Led Peak Risk – Portfolio managers warn Nikkei could “soon peak” if U.S. tech momentum slows. Foreign Flows Reversal – Oversea...