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.
As investors brace for upcoming inflation data, the U.S. stock market displayed modest fluctuations, suggesting a cautious optimism. The anticipated data is crucial for determining the Federal Reserve's forthcoming monetary policies. Market Dynamics Early trading showed a slight decline in stocks, a mild response following the tumultuous trading that marked last week as one of the year's most volatile. Despite expectations of a moderate increase in July's consumer price index, the overall annual inflation is predicted to continue its slow ascent. This trend has given Federal Reserve officials the confidence to consider lowering borrowing costs while shifting their focus towards a weakening labor market. Analyst Perspectives Chris Larkin of E*Trade, a Morgan Stanley company, emphasized the importance of the forthcoming inflation figures. "Investors are hoping the numbers will hit a sweet spot—tempering rate hike fears while easing recent recession concerns that have uns...