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Market Daily Report: Bursa Malaysia Ends Nearly Flat As Construction Stocks Attract Buying

 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.

Study Reveals Persistent Gender Pay Gap in US and UK

A recent study indicates that the gender pay gap in high-income countries such as the US, UK, Italy, and Canada is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Despite previous trends suggesting a narrowing of the income disparity between men and women, new findings from the Centre for Economic Policy Research reveal that progress has stagnated since the early 2000s. Key Findings Historical Trends : From the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, the gender pay gap narrowed significantly due to reduced earnings differentials between male and female labor market entrants. However, this convergence halted at the start of the 2000s. Stagnation of Progress : The recent narrowing of the pay gap has been driven primarily by the retirement of older cohorts with larger pay gaps, rather than improved earnings for younger women. The study highlights that the convergence of male and female entry outcomes persisted until the mid-1990s, primarily due to poorer outcomes for younger men rather than better prospects fo...

Bigger debt loads and erratic politics haunt bond markets

The bond-market tremors came two weeks and two continents apart. Key Takeaways: French Election Impact : In mid-June, French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call a surprise election triggered a selloff amid fears a new government would ramp up spending. US Political Turmoil : Treasury yields jumped after Donald Trump trounced Joe Biden in the presidential debate, raising concerns about a surge in the US deficit if Trump returns to the White House. Biden's announcement to withdraw from the race and endorse Kamala Harris added another twist. Global Debt Surge : The OECD projects government debt from major nations will swell by $2 trillion this year to a record $56 trillion. Deficits have piled up due to heavy spending post-pandemic. Market Reactions : Investment firms like BlackRock Inc. are favoring shorter-term bonds to mitigate long-term risks associated with surging debt and political instability. Fiscal Warnings : The IMF warned that newly elected governments might boost...

US Industrial Output Posts Largest Back-to-Back Gains Since 2021

US industrial production recorded a robust increase for the second consecutive month in June, indicating that manufacturing may be regaining some stability. According to Federal Reserve data released on Wednesday, production at factories, mines, and utilities rose by 0.6% in June, following a revised 0.9% gain in May. This marks the largest two-month advance since late 2021. Key Highlights: June Production Increase:  The 0.6% increase surpassed the median estimate of a 0.3% rise in a Bloomberg survey. Factory Output:  Factory output, which constitutes three-fourths of total industrial production, increased by 0.4%. This broad advance included gains in autos, electrical equipment, appliances, and nondurable goods. The previous month saw an upwardly revised increase of 1%. Mining and Utilities:  Mining and energy extraction rose by 0.3%, while output growth at utilities also accelerated. Challenges and Recovery: Manufacturing has struggled to build momentum due to rising in...