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.
Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday as markets awaited a critical OPEC+ meeting , expected to extend supply cuts, while geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Asia lent additional support to crude prices. Market Performance Brent Crude Futures: Up 19 cents (0.26%) at $73.81 per barrel by 0916 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude: Gained 13 cents (0.19%) to $70.07 per barrel. Tuesday Rally: Brent surged 2.5% , its largest gain in two weeks. Geopolitical Turmoil Supports Prices Geopolitical tensions continue to influence oil markets: Middle East: A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile. Israel has warned it will escalate attacks into Lebanon if the truce collapses. Asia: South Korea’s political crisis, following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s reversed martial law declaration, has added to uncertainty. Syria: A rebel offensive threatens to escalate regional tensions, potentially involving several oil-producing nations. "These geopolitical risks...