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.
China’s semiconductor industry is bracing for Donald Trump’s second term by increasing purchases of foreign chipmaking equipment , pursuing overseas talent , and seeking new global alliances . Trump previously targeted Chinese tech giants like Huawei and SMIC with trade restrictions, while the Biden administration’s export controls limited China’s access to advanced US-made chips. Chinese chipmakers are strengthening relationships with countries wary of US policies and focusing on self-sufficiency . Zhu Jing, of the Beijing Semiconductor Industry Association , urged companies to expand globally and attract talent restricted from the US, potentially benefiting China’s semiconductor sector. China has accelerated imports of semiconductor equipment , spending $24.12 billion in the first nine months of 2024, including $7.9 billion on lithography machines from the Netherlands. Industry experts report Chinese firms are better prepared than during Trump’s first term, having ramped up p...