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.
Asian markets are poised for a positive start on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street's rally led by technology stocks. Futures indicate gains in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Sydney , while Hong Kong remains flat . Currency markets and geopolitical developments are adding complexity to global sentiment. Key Highlights Wall Street Momentum S&P 500 : Notched its 54th record close of 2024 , up 0.2% . Nasdaq 100 : Rose 1.1% , driven by Tesla (+5.9%) and a new peak for Apple . Dow Jones : Fell 0.3% . Treasuries : 10-year yields rose 2 basis points to 4.19% . Tech Restrictions and China Focus The US tightened curbs on chip and AI components to China, affecting companies like SK Hynix , Samsung , and Micron . China Stimulus Watch : Investors await policy signals from this month’s Politburo meeting , as November’s session lacked a key economic policy readout. Fed’s Influence Fed Governor Christopher Waller indicated support for a December rate cut , with swaps pricing a 70% chance of a 25-basis...