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.
Thailand’s markets are expected to remain under pressure following the ouster of the nation’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, with concerns mounting over the potential delay of key policies that could have bolstered investor confidence. Analysts warn that the ongoing political uncertainty could exacerbate existing economic challenges, such as elevated household debt and concerns over the country's investment attractiveness. Key Highlights: SET Index Performance: The benchmark SET Index, already one of the worst-performing indices globally this year, dropped 0.4% on Wednesday after the Constitutional Court found Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin guilty of an ethics violation and removed him from office. The Thai baht also weakened in early Asia trading, underperforming its regional peers. Concerns Over Policy Delays: Market watchers are concerned that critical policies, including a proposed US$14 billion cash handout program, may be delayed or scrapped amid the political turmoil. ...