KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher, buoyed by Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent, alongside positive cues from Wall Street. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.30 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 1,635.86 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56. The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, and fluctuated between an intraday high of 1,642.44 and a low of 1,622.62 during the trading session. However, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 723 to 497, while 466 counters were unchanged, 1,075 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.74 billion units valued at RM3.61 billion compared with yesterday’s 2.81 billion units valued at RM2.57 billion.
Tariffs and Tokens – The New U.S. Playbook Washington’s trade and monetary strategy is becoming increasingly intertwined. The U.S.–China tariff truce, extended for 90 days earlier this month, locks in a 10% baseline tariff with “reciprocal” rates ranging up to 50% , including Malaysia’s US$150 billion equipment purchase package and annual US$3.4 billion LNG commitment via Petronas. Indonesia, meanwhile, accepted a fixed 19% tariff in its bilateral deal. But U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of “irreversible losses” and even a “1929-style depression” if courts overturn his tariff powers underscores that law and politics have become a core component of market risk premia . Parallel to tariffs, the GENIUS Act (July 2025) has reshaped the stablecoin ecosystem. By mandating 1:1 reserves in high-quality liquid assets , stablecoins now effectively channel demand into U.S. Treasuries, embedding fiscal engin...