KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rebounded to close higher on Wednesday on selective buying of defensive stocks after a volatile trading session. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said consumer products and services stocks lifted the key index higher, overcoming lingering geopolitical concerns. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 3.08 points to 1,715.56 from yesterday’s close of 1,712.48. The benchmark index, which opened 1.91 points higher at 1,714.39, moved between 1,710.79 and 1,720.59 during the day’s trading. In the broader market, gainers outstripped decliners 550 to 476, while 612 counters were unchanged, 1,129 untraded, and 48 suspended. Turnover rose to 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.48 billion from 2.94 billion units valued at RM2.56 billion on Tuesday.
The Trump administration is moving to tighten export controls on advanced AI chips , with Malaysia and Thailand identified as potential rerouting hubs. According to Bloomberg sources, the proposed policy—still in draft stage—would require US chipmakers such as Nvidia Corp to obtain licenses before shipping high-performance AI processors to these two Southeast Asian nations. While exemptions are reportedly under consideration for US allies and to maintain supply chain continuity, the proposal signals a broadening of US semiconductor restrictions —one that may introduce new volatility for chip-related businesses and infrastructure players in the region. Strategic Implications for Southeast Asia Malaysia and Thailand play a critical role in the global chip supply chain , especially in packaging, testing, and assembly . Any policy that introduces compliance uncertainty or additional licensing hurdles could prompt: Delays in chip delivery schedules R...