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.
Market Surge Amid Economic Strain China’s equity market is staging a powerful rally despite persistent economic headwinds. The Shanghai Composite Index recently hit a 10-year high , while the CSI 300 has gained more than 20% from its 2025 low , adding nearly US$1 trillion in market value in just a month. This surge comes even as domestic consumption, property prices, and inflation indicators flash red . Consumer prices were flat in July, producer prices declined for a 34th straight month, and GDP deflator readings remained negative — all pointing to a deflationary spiral undermining corporate pricing power. Drivers of the Bull Run Excess Liquidity: Cash-rich investors are rotating into equities amid limited alternatives. Policy Support Expectations: Hopes for targeted measures from Beijing, though so far the government has avoided large-scale stimulus. Margin Trading: Outstanding margin debt has cl...