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.
Canadian retail sales showed no growth in November, halting a four-month streak of gains, according to an advanced estimate by Statistics Canada. This follows a 0.6% increase in October , slightly below the 0.7% forecast by Bloomberg-polled economists. Key Highlights Consumption Weakens: Retail sales stalling signals waning consumer momentum as the Bank of Canada continues to lower borrowing costs, albeit at a slower pace. Bank of Canada Rate Cuts: Since June, the central bank has reduced rates by 175 basis points , with another 50 basis points cut last week. Policymakers are expected to continue easing early next year. Subsector Performance: Automotive Sales Lead Gains: Sales increased at both new and used car dealerships in October. Core Retail Sales: Excluding gas stations and car dealers, core sales rose 0.2% , driven by furniture, electronics, and personal care. Gas Station Sales Decline: Receipts dropped for t...