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 UK government reported a smaller-than-expected budget deficit in November , offering a brief respite for Finance Minister Rachel Reeves , who faces mounting challenges to balance public finances amid a slowing economy and rising inflation. Key November Borrowing Figures Public Sector Net Borrowing : £ 11.249 billion , lower than the £ 13 billion forecast by economists polled by Reuters. A £1.8 billion reduction in inflation-linked debt compensation due to a 0.3% fall in the retail price index (RPI) in September helped narrow the deficit. Year-to-Date Borrowing April–November 2024/25 Financial Year : Borrowing totaled £ 113.2 billion , similar to the same period in 2023/24. Despite November’s improved figures, borrowing has exceeded expectations in eight out of 11 months in 2024. Challenges Ahead for Reeves Fiscal Rules Under Strain : Reeves pledged to balance day-to-day spending with tax revenues by the end of the decade. P...