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.
Real Estate Watch Mortgage rates in the U.S. fell for the fourth straight week, hitting 6.77% — the lowest level since early May. While still close to 7%, the drop offers some breathing room for potential buyers. What’s Driving the Shift? Cooling inflation expectations and Fed rate cut optimism. Softening in new purchase contracts (-2.3% in 4 weeks). Lower listings in 20 of the top 50 metro areas — a sign some sellers are holding back. Affordability Still a Challenge Despite better bargaining power for buyers, affordability remains tight. Many economists say significantly lower rates are needed to truly stimulate demand. MoneyMaster Take — Key Insights: Lower mortgage rates = slight relief for homebuyers. Housing market tilts toward buyers — more choice, more negotiation power. But affordability headwinds persist — don’t expect a boom.