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.
Key Takeaways: Global Economic Concerns : Asian stocks dropped on Friday, closing the week on a subdued note as deepening geopolitical tensions and fears of the U.S. tariffs’ impact on global growth weighed heavily on investors. This uncertainty kept gold near record highs, with traders seeking safe-haven assets. Central Banks Hold Steady : The U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan (BOJ), and Bank of England all opted to maintain their interest rates this week, reflecting the cautious stance of policymakers amid growing global economic uncertainty, largely driven by U.S. trade policies under President Trump. Rising Geopolitical Tensions : Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military sites heightened global tensions, pushing investors towards safer investments like gold. Focus on U.S. Tariffs : Investors are particularly on edge ahead of the U.S. administration’s planned tariff hikes on April 2. These reciprocal tariffs could further escalate inflation ...