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 Takeaway: Japanese and Chinese investors sold a combined $113.2 billion in US Treasuries during Q3 2024, signaling concerns over inflationary policies and geopolitical risks tied to President-elect Donald Trump's impending administration. Ahead of the US presidential election, Japanese investors sold a record $61.9 billion , while Chinese funds offloaded $51.3 billion of US government debt, according to US Treasury data. The moves came as Treasury yields peaked in September and concerns grew over Trump’s low-tax, high-tariff policies , which are expected to fuel inflation and higher yields . Key Drivers Behind the Sell-Off Pre-Election Uncertainty: Both countries reacted defensively to election risks, with Japan’s sales driven by fears of a Trump win and China responding to geopolitical tensions . Yield Concerns: Treasuries dropped 4% since mid-September due to expectations of higher US yields under Trump’s fiscal policies. Currency Interventions: Japan’s sales were par...