KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia gave up earlier gains to end mixed today, amid a higher regional market showing, as property, construction, and healthcare counters attracted buying interests, while plantation, banking, and telecommunication stocks saw some profit-taking, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.70 points to close at 1,602.34 from yesterday’s close of 1,604.04. The benchmark index, which opened 0.86 of-a-point lower at 1,603.18, moved between 1,601.02 and 1,608.88 during the trading session. However, the broader market was mixed to higher, with gainers leading decliners by 565 to 438 while 502 counters remained unchanged, 961 untraded, and 14 suspended. Turnover narrowed to 2.83 billion units valued at RM2.08 billion versus 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the benchmark index remained range-bound and it required a dec
The Federal Reserve is expected to receive validation for its recent jumbo interest rate cut as new data on inflation and consumer demand emerge. Economists predict that the Fed's preferred price metric, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index , will rise by just 0.1% for the second time in three months, marking a 2.3% annual gain— the smallest increase since early 2021 , and slightly above the Fed's 2% target. This decline in inflation reflects lower energy and food prices, as well as a moderation in core costs. The PCE price gauge excluding food and fuel is expected to rise 0.2%, according to government data to be released on Friday. These easing inflationary pressures allowed the Fed to confidently implement its first rate cut in over four years , slashing rates by half a percentage point on September 18. The cut represents a pivotal shift in policy, aimed at preventing further deterioration in the job market. Bloomberg economists noted, "The Fed'