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: The South Korean won, one of Asia’s worst-performing currencies, faces further depreciation risks as Trump’s potential tariffs and macroeconomic challenges weigh on its outlook. The South Korean won hit 1,410.70 per dollar last week, its weakest since November 2022, amid fears that US President-elect Donald Trump may impose tariffs on Korean goods . Analysts predict the won may decline an additional 0.7%, adding to this year’s 7.7% drop . Factors Driving Weakness: Export Dependence: South Korea’s exports, particularly semiconductors critical for AI , are vulnerable to scrutiny as the US is its second-largest trading partner after China. Macro Pressures: Rising US bond yields and foreign selling of Korean stocks have further weakened the currency. Key companies, such as Samsung Electronics , reported disappointing earnings, spurring equity outflows . Market Outlook: Bank of America Securities expects the won to hover near 1,400 per dollar through 2024, underperf...