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.
The first half of 2025 saw ETFs navigating a minefield of rate cut speculation, geopolitical flashpoints, and commodity swings. Three standout signals emerged: 1️⃣ Gold Miners & Hedging Plays: Gold above $3,500/oz drove leveraged gold mining ETFs sharply higher. Retail traders piled in, but expect volatility ahead if rates stay elevated. 2️⃣ Defense & Security Theme: Defense ETFs rallied amid Middle East tension and NATO budget increases. Consider them for portfolio diversification with geopolitical tailwinds. 3️⃣ Asia Tech Revival: South Korean-focused ETFs outperformed as semiconductor exports rebounded. Policy stability and tech momentum could keep this trade alive into 2H. Money Master Take: Stay nimble. Gold & defense offer hedge potential but are prone to sharp reversals. Asia tech exposure could reward long-term holders if earnings momentum continues. Big flows into low-cost Vanguard broad beta ETFs highlight a steady shift to passi...