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.
Key Takeaway The US has officially cut tariffs on Japanese cars and auto parts from 25% to 15% under a new trade deal with Japan. In return, Tokyo will lower tariffs on US goods and commit US$550 billion to US infrastructure projects. What Happened President Trump signed an executive order Thursday, finalizing last month’s trade pact. The new auto tariff rates are retroactive to Aug. 7 . This marks a significant shift in US-Japan trade relations, aiming to reduce tension and strengthen economic ties. Market Impact Japanese automakers rallied : Toyota (TM): +2.40% Honda (HMC): +1.91% US carmakers also gained modestly: Ford (F): +0.52% EV stocks like Lucid (LCID) slipped, reflecting competitive concerns. Investor Angle Lower tariffs should: Boost competitiveness of Japanese automakers in the US. Open opportunities for US exporters gaining improved access to Japan. Channel massive Japanese capital into US infrastructure — potentially lifting relate...