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.
Key Takeaways: Trump's Tariff Threats Resurface Amid Shifting Dynamics President-elect Donald Trump is considering steep trade tariffs on Chinese goods, aiming to address persistent trade deficits and counter China’s state-subsidized exports , including inexpensive EVs and tech-packed goods . China’s Economic Vulnerabilities Property Meltdown and declining foreign investment leave China economically weakened. The yuan's undervaluation , pegged at 7.23 against the U.S. dollar instead of the World Bank’s estimated 3.81, exacerbates trade imbalances. Potential Impact of Tariffs Historical Context: During Trump’s first term, tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports caused minimal inflationary impact (0.3%) and coincided with robust U.S. growth (2.8% annually). Second-Term Strategy: New tariffs would require phased implementation and careful calibration to address third-country imports with Chinese compone...