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.
Quick Summary Europe’s new car registrations fell 3.5% in January France and Germany led the decline EV sales rose 14% , plug-in hybrids jumped nearly 30% Chinese brands now account for ~11% of electrified car sales Overall Market: Growth Streak Ends European new-vehicle registrations dropped to 961,382 units in January , breaking a six-month growth streak, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. Biggest drags: Germany (Europe’s largest car market, ~22% share) France Meanwhile: Sales rose in the UK and Italy Weak consumer confidence, high car prices and rising unemployment — especially in Germany — are weighing on demand. EVs Remain the Bright Spot Despite the broader decline, electrified vehicles continued gaining traction: Fully electric vehicles (EVs): +14% YoY Plug-in hybrids: +~30% YoY EV sales grew strongly in: Germany Italy Spain France In the UK, hybrid sales surged nearly 50%, though battery-only EVs remained flat. Key takeaway: ...