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.
Hajime Takata, a policy board member of the Bank of Japan (BOJ), indicated that the central bank would consider adjusting its monetary easing policies if inflation trends develop as expected. Speaking in Ishikawa, Japan, Takata emphasized the need for policy adjustments if economic conditions align with the BOJ's projections. Key Points from Takata's Remarks: Policy Adjustments Based on Economic Data: Takata stated that it would be necessary to "adjust the degree of easing" in monetary policy if inflationary trends match BOJ forecasts. This aligns with recent comments from BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda, suggesting that the BOJ will continue to normalize its policy settings as conditions permit. No Immediate Rush for Policy Change: While hinting at potential rate hikes, Takata also highlighted the importance of monitoring financial markets, particularly following recent global market turmoil. This suggests the BOJ is not in a rush to adjust its policy immediately. Positive W...