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.
Business on Edge UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure from business leaders to hold back on corporate tax hikes , as fears rise that more levies could stifle growth. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) urged a pro-growth stance to avoid entering a "vicious circle" of economic slowdown. Backdrop & Tensions Reeves raised £40 billion in new taxes last October, including £26 billion in employer payroll taxes . The UK economy has since shed over 250,000 jobs . Reeves is caught between Labour’s promises not to raise income, VAT, or employee NI, and mounting fiscal pressures. Business Plea BCC Chief Shevaun Haviland is calling for the government to: Address skills shortages and operating costs . Avoid more business taxation, which would restrict investment . Policy Outlook Reeves has hinted she may revisit her fiscal headroom , potentially raising taxes again. Economists warn her fiscal leeway c...