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 Highlights: Overall Decline : US industrial production dropped 0.1% in November, marking the third consecutive monthly decline , against expectations of a 0.3% rise. Weaker Segments : Utilities : Output fell the most in four months . Mining : Recorded the largest decline since May . Manufacturing : Increased 0.2% , but below expectations, following a revised 0.7% decline in October. Sector Analysis Aerospace Equipment : Despite the end of a Boeing machinists' strike, aircraft parts production fell , dragging down the sector. Utilities : Declines reflect lower seasonal demand and output volatility. Mining : Reduced extraction activities contributed to the weakest results since May. Why It Matters High Borrowing Costs : Companies continue to limit capital spending due to elevated interest rates. Export Challenges : A strong dollar and sluggish global markets are adding headwinds for US manufacturers. ...