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 Overview Bursa Malaysia rebounded to 1,550.19 , marking a +1.44% weekly gain despite global market jitters ahead of the U.S. tariff policy deadline on July 9 . The return of foreign funds into local equities offered a rare tailwind, although retail investors remained net sellers for the second straight week. USD/MYR closed at 4.2222 , marginally lower by 0.15% , reflecting cautious FX sentiment ahead of expected tariff announcements. Key Highlights & Market Catalysts 1. Policy Moves Support Domestic Demand Malaysia expanded the Sales and Service Tax (SST) to cover more goods/services (5–10%) while shielding low-income groups via exemptions. The revised electricity tariff structure further aids cost-of-living support and energy efficiency. Investor takeaway: The SST reform is mildly inflationary but signals government commitment to revenue stability while cushioning vulnerable households—a net positi...