KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended lower on the final trading day of the week, weighed down by the plantation sector as investors locked in gains following its recent strong performance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 7.03 points 1,708.10, compared with yesterday’s close of 1,715.13. The benchmark index opened 1.39 points lower at 1,713.74 and fluctuated between 1,704.86 and 1,715.20 throughout the day. The broader market was negative with losers outnumbering gainers 568 to 523, while 596 counters were unchanged, 1,085 untraded and 19 suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.33 billion units valued at RM2.98 billion from 3.90 billion units valued at RM3.21 billion on Thursday.
Asian equities surged to record highs , led by a renewed technology rally after blowout earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co reassured investors that the artificial intelligence (AI) boom remains durable. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose 0.3% to a fresh all-time high , marking its fourth consecutive weekly gain . Technology shares across the region advanced strongly, while South Korea’s benchmark index — closely tied to the AI theme — also reached new peaks. TSMC shares climbed to their highest level ever , reigniting risk appetite across global markets. The optimism spilled into US markets, with futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both rising, signalling continued strength in global tech sentiment. Investors who had previously worried about stretched valuations and heavy AI-related spending appear reassured by earnings that support ongoing data-centre demand. Market confidence has ...