KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended marginally lower on Monday amid selling activity as the market lacked fresh catalysts to spur investors’ buying interest, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.60 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 1,670.02, from Friday’s close of 1,671.62. The benchmark index, which opened 0.93 of-a-point higher at 1,672.55, moved between 1,668.61 and 1,674.11 throughout the trading session. Market breadth was negative as losers surpassed gainers 748 to 388, while 517 counters were unchanged, 1,271 untraded and 91 suspended. Turnover slipped to 3.11 billion units worth RM2.40 billion from 4.07 billion units valued at RM2.69 billion on Friday.
Malaysia’s economy expanded 4.4% YoY in 2Q 2025, matching 1Q’s pace, as robust domestic demand offset a slowdown in exports, according to the Department of Statistics. The figure was just shy of the 4.5% advance estimate . On a seasonally-adjusted basis, GDP growth accelerated to 2.1% QoQ from 0.7% in 1Q. BNM’s View Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the economy faces tariff-related uncertainty “from a position of strength,” with the official 2025 growth forecast of 4.0%-4.8% deemed broad enough to capture current risks. Tariff Impact: The US recently imposed a 19% import tariff on Malaysian goods as part of wider trade actions, alongside a blanket 10% tariff since April. A threatened 100% tariff on imported semiconductors — which account for ~one-third of Malaysia’s US exports — remains a key risk. The additional 9% tariff is within B...