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.
Tariffs and Tokens – The New U.S. Playbook Washington’s trade and monetary strategy is becoming increasingly intertwined. The U.S.–China tariff truce, extended for 90 days earlier this month, locks in a 10% baseline tariff with “reciprocal” rates ranging up to 50% , including Malaysia’s US$150 billion equipment purchase package and annual US$3.4 billion LNG commitment via Petronas. Indonesia, meanwhile, accepted a fixed 19% tariff in its bilateral deal. But U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of “irreversible losses” and even a “1929-style depression” if courts overturn his tariff powers underscores that law and politics have become a core component of market risk premia . Parallel to tariffs, the GENIUS Act (July 2025) has reshaped the stablecoin ecosystem. By mandating 1:1 reserves in high-quality liquid assets , stablecoins now effectively channel demand into U.S. Treasuries, embedding fiscal engin...