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.
Markets across Asia saw cautious gains on Tuesday as global investors watched closely for updates on the massive U.S. tax and spending bill. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar weakened, and gold prices jumped on uncertainty. Key Takeaway: Cautious Optimism Amid Washington Gridlock While Asian shares edged up , the momentum was tempered by political delays in Washington. Investors had been expecting a vote on President Trump’s US$3.3 trillion tax-and-spending bill , but prolonged debate over amendments held things back. Japan's Nikkei slipped as much as 1.1% as the yen strengthened , while the Kospi led gains , up 1.8%. Money Master Take: Risk Assets Pause as Policy Risks Rise The world is watching Capitol Hill. Until the fate of the “ one big beautiful bill ” is sealed, expect market jitters . While Asian equities remain resilient , the weaker dollar and gold rally suggest a rising appetite for safety amid fiscal concerns....