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.
Hong Kong's businesses and property owners are facing unprecedented pressure, with many distressed sellers offering assets at fire-sale prices as the city's economic challenges deepen. Driven by China's economic slump , high interest rates, and weak consumer demand, Hong Kong's once-booming real estate sector and other industries are seeing significant declines. Luxury properties are being sold at steep discounts, with some mansions in Hong Kong’s Peak district sold for as much as 50% below their peak value. For example, the family of real estate investor Ho Shung Pun sold four mansions in July for HK$1.1 billion , half of their previous value. The commercial real estate sector is also under strain, with some office buildings, like a floor in the Bank of America Tower , selling at a loss. According to Derek Lai , Deloitte’s global insolvency leader, the current wave of distressed assets is the largest seen in 30 years, affecting various industries, from real esta...