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.
Since the pandemic, Dubai has experienced a population surge, attracting around 400,000 new residents as expatriates flood in for high-paying jobs in the Middle Eastern business hub. The city’s population has now reached 3.8 million and is projected to hit 5.8 million by 2040 , drawing comparisons to global financial centers like Singapore. While this influx has bolstered Dubai’s economy and contributed to the emirate’s position as one of the top-performing markets globally, it has also exposed the limitations of its infrastructure . The arrival of wealthy expats, such as traders, lawyers, and bankers, has pushed up property prices and rents , with home values rising for 16 consecutive quarters. Rents for single-family villas have soared by 86% since the pandemic began, and competition for school admissions has intensified. Although Dubai’s public transport remains relatively limited, and roads are frequently congested, it still performs better than cities like London or New Yo...