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.
Bursa Malaysia wrapped up 2024 with 55 initial public offerings (IPOs) , marking a 72% increase compared to the 32 IPOs in 2023. This milestone represents the highest number of listings in 19 years , solidifying Bursa's position as a leader among Asean exchanges in terms of IPO numbers and funds raised. Key Highlights Strong IPO Momentum : 11 Main Market listings (up from 7 in 2023) 40 ACE Market listings (up from 24 in 2023) 4 LEAP Market listings (up from 1 in 2023) Capital Raised : RM7.42 billion in total proceeds, a 107% increase from 2023. Market capitalisation of RM31.37 billion , a 130% rise compared to 2023. Top IPOs : The five largest IPOs contributed RM20.32 billion in market capitalisation, led by companies such as 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings , Johor Plantations Group , Alpha IVF Group , and Prolintas Infra Business Trust . Leadership Comments CEO Da...