KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia finished higher on Wednesday as bargain-hunting activities emerged following recent pullback in the market, analysts said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 0.13 per cent, or 2.21 points, to 1,682.13 from Tuesday’s close of 1,679.92. The index opened 2.11 points better at 1,682.03 and moved between 1,680.49 and 1,690.66 throughout the trading session. Market breadth was positive with gainers outpacing decliners 518 to 483, while 564 counters were unchanged, 1,175 untraded and 41 suspended. Turnover shrank to 2.76 billion units valued at RM2.42 billion against 3.35 billion units worth RM3.12 billion on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump is attempting to reset the economic narrative ahead of midterm elections, as surging fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict weigh on both the economy and Republican electoral prospects. Inflation Pressures Undermine Policy Messaging Rising costs across fuel, food, housing, and insurance have intensified concerns about affordability , overshadowing the administration’s policy efforts. Despite promoting tax relief measures, including tax exemptions on tips and overtime income, analysts note that cost-of-living pressures remain the dominant issue for voters . High gasoline prices, linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz , continue to feed into broader inflation, impacting household spending power. Limited Tools to Contain Energy Costs The administration has taken several steps to ease energy prices: Releasing oil from strategic reserves Adjusting shipping regulations Easing sanctions o...