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.
Japanese equities opened higher Monday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) unveiled a long-term, gradual plan to reduce its massive exchange-traded fund (ETF) holdings. Market Snapshot Nikkei 225 : +147.97 points (+0.32%) to 45,193.77 at open. BOJ plan : Reduce ETF holdings by ~620 billion yen (market value) annually. Impact : Removes a key market overhang that had weighed on sentiment. Context The BOJ’s gradual pace signals a careful approach to avoid destabilizing markets. Investors see the move as reducing uncertainty while keeping liquidity intact. Meanwhile in the US, tech companies face challenges after Trump proposed a $100,000 H-1B visa fee , shaking an industry reliant on global talent. Key Takeaway The BOJ’s slow-and-steady unwind reassured markets, lifting Japanese equities. The Nikkei 225 gained at the open, supported by easing concerns about the central bank’s heavy ETF footprint.