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.
Top Trade Envoy Signals Hope — But Time Is Running Out South Korea is racing against the clock to secure a last-minute trade deal with the US before Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on Korean exports kicks in on Aug 1 . Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said on Monday there's a real chance to strike an “agreement in principle” before the deadline, with further negotiations to follow. “Twenty days are not enough for a perfect treaty,” Yeo admitted, “but a foundational agreement is still possible.” Why It Matters for Investors The proposed 25% tariffs threaten South Korea’s key exports like automobiles and steel , which are major drivers of its GDP and global supply chains. A deal could ease pressure on Korean equities , particularly automakers (Hyundai, Kia) and industrial suppliers . The news follows months of political instability in Seoul, with President Lee Jae-myung ...