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.
Despite a rebound in February, Malaysia’s auto sector is off to a sluggish start in 2025. Analysts from Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) and RHB Research are keeping a Neutral stance on the sector, citing softening momentum and fading post-pandemic order backlogs. TIV Outlook: A Normalisation Year According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) , total industry volume (TIV) surged 30.1% month-on-month to 63,906 units in February 2025, helped by more working days. But on a year-to-date basis, TIV slumped 13.9% to 113,100 units , reflecting a return to normal after a record-breaking 2024. HLIB forecasts full-year TIV to decline 8.2% to 750,000 units , below MAA’s projection of 780,000 units. Slower new bookings and reduced backlogs are cited as key drivers, though new model launches may help support volumes. Market Leader: Perodua Holding Steady Perodua continues to lead with 31,400 units so...