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.
Tariff Countdown: EU Races to Secure Trade Relief as US Deadline Looms — What It Means for Investors
The European Union (EU) is in the final stages of negotiating a framework trade agreement with the United States , aiming to avert steep tariff hikes set to take effect on August 1 . According to sources familiar with the matter, the bloc is urgently working to lock in a 10% tariff rate across a defined basket of exports, providing temporary relief as both sides pursue a more comprehensive long-term trade deal. Key Sectors in Focus The EU is pushing for exemptions or reduced tariffs on high-value goods including: Aircraft and aircraft parts (critical for Airbus and European aerospace suppliers) Wine and spirits (major exports from France, Italy, and Spain) However, challenges remain over US-imposed 25% tariffs on cars and auto parts and 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum . Although a breakthrough on these fronts appears unlikely in the short term, both sides are exploring a “tariff offset mechanism” that would allow select...