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.
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s clear this has been a year of remarkable financial milestones and volatility . From historic gains in tech stocks and cryptocurrencies to significant geopolitical and economic shifts, these events reshaped global markets. 1. Trump and Musk: The Power Duo Trump's Return : Donald Trump became the first non-consecutive two-term U.S. president since 1892, sweeping Congress. Shares of $Trump Media & Technology (DJT.US)$ saw extreme volatility, with the DJT index surging 120% in October alone. Musk’s Gains : Elon Musk supported Trump, donating $250 million to his campaign and was appointed head of the new "Department of Government Efficiency." $Tesla (TSLA.US)$ shares soared 75% post-election , hitting $488 , while Musk’s net worth grew by $200 billion . 2. Bitcoin’s Meteoric Rise Price Milestones : Bitcoin surged 130% in 2024 , surpassing $100,000 and becoming th...