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 U.S. stock market is pushing to record highs despite a fragile economy, prompting Goldman Sachs to suggest put options as a cost-effective hedge against potential declines. Market Calm Masks Risks The S&P 500 logged its 18th record high of 2025 on Thursday. Economic data shows slowing consumer spending and stubborn inflation . President Trump’s Federal Reserve criticism and unpredictable trade policies add to uncertainty. VIX (fear gauge) has fallen to 14.7 , well below its historical average of 19.5. Why Puts Look Cheap Now Put option pricing is closely tied to market volatility. With VIX low, three-month puts are trading at relatively low premiums . “Markets at all-time highs and low volatility levels provide an attractive opportunity for hedging,” said Goldman’s Arun Prakash. ETF Opportunities Goldman recommends three ETFs with above-average economic sensitivity and che...