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 Takeaways Gold and silver hit all-time highs on trade-war fears US tariffs on European nations backed fears of wider conflict Safe-haven buying boosts precious metals and defensive assets Risk assets like stocks and the US dollar weaken amid uncertainty Geopolitical risk is a key driver of current market sentiment Record prices for gold and silver are underscoring rising global risk aversion as markets react to renewed trade tensions between the United States and Europe. Safe-haven demand surged after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on eight European countries , including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, over disagreements related to Greenland. The proposed 10% levy starting February 1, rising to 25% in June , has stoked fears of broader economic retaliation and possible trade conflict. Gold prices climbed roughly 1.6% in early Asian trading , reaching a fresh record above US$4,680 per ounce an...