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.
China could raise its fiscal deficit ratio to a record high , potentially signaling its commitment to achieving this year’s growth target of around 5% , according to economist Jia Kang . Jia, a former head of a Ministry of Finance-affiliated research institute, suggested that the fiscal deficit could be capped at around 4% of GDP , up from the current 3% . Such a move could unlock between 4 trillion yuan ($570 billion) and 10 trillion yuan in stimulus, combining both government and private investment. This would complement the series of recent measures aimed at reviving demand in the world’s second-largest economy , which have included interest rate cuts , property market support , and even cash handouts . The possible increase in public spending has fueled optimism in the Chinese stock market , which has rallied significantly. Investors are now closely watching the next steps from the Ministry of Finance, as expectations for additional fiscal support grow. Economists warn that Beij...