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.
Key Takeaways: Loan growth projected to ease to 4%-5% over the next two years vs. 5.5% in 2024. Non-performing loans (NPLs) may rise 20-25 bps to 1.6% by end-2026, mainly from SMEs and low-income households. Strong household and corporate balance sheets should cushion downside risks, but intense competition in mortgages and deposits will pressure profitability. Slower Loan Growth Outlook Malaysia’s banking sector is facing headwinds from slowing economic growth and weaker corporate loan demand, according to a new report by S&P Global Ratings . The agency flagged that external risks , including higher tariffs and supply chain disruptions, could weigh heavily on smaller businesses. S&P estimates that loan growth will slow to 4%-5% annually over 2025–2026, down from 5.5% in 2024 , as corporates delay capital expenditure plans amid external uncertainties. Rising Credit Risks S&P cautioned that n...