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.
The proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel remains in limbo amid intense political and regulatory scrutiny. Despite strong opposition from both Trump and Biden-era policies, the deal still holds potential —thanks to emerging signs of policy flexibility, legal challenges, and strategic benefits that could revitalize U.S. Steel. Key Deal Dynamics Winners: U.S. Steel Shareholders: Stand to benefit if the deal goes through, with the offer valued at $55 per share compared to the current market price of around $37 . Nippon Steel: Gains an opportunity to inject capital for modernizing U.S. Steel’s aging mills and boosting long-term competitiveness. Local Workers (Selective Support): Some union factions favor the deal, seeing it as a pathway to preserve jobs and avoid plant closures. Strugglers: Political Opposition: Persistent resistance from political figures, including Trump’s previous stance against foreign ownership, and Biden’s executi...