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.
Global markets are entering a more volatile phase as investors reassess lofty technology valuations and the sustainability of massive AI-related capital spending. Asian equities traded mixed on Wednesday following a sharp sell-off in global technology and semiconductor shares, while bond markets signaled growing demand for safety amid concerns over economic uncertainty and interest rate expectations. What Changed? Just weeks ago, investors were focused on: AI-driven earnings optimism Falling geopolitical risks Expectations of monetary easing Now, markets are increasingly focused on: Rising AI infrastructure spending Higher-for-longer interest rates Elevated valuations in technology stocks Increased market volatility The result is a shift from momentum-driven buying toward more selective risk-taking. Technology Stocks Under Pressure The latest sell-off was led by technology and semiconductor names after investors began questioning whether current valuations fully reflect future earnings...