KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended marginally lower on Monday amid selling activity as the market lacked fresh catalysts to spur investors’ buying interest, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.60 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 1,670.02, from Friday’s close of 1,671.62. The benchmark index, which opened 0.93 of-a-point higher at 1,672.55, moved between 1,668.61 and 1,674.11 throughout the trading session. Market breadth was negative as losers surpassed gainers 748 to 388, while 517 counters were unchanged, 1,271 untraded and 91 suspended. Turnover slipped to 3.11 billion units worth RM2.40 billion from 4.07 billion units valued at RM2.69 billion on Friday.
Real Estate Watch Mortgage rates in the U.S. fell for the fourth straight week, hitting 6.77% — the lowest level since early May. While still close to 7%, the drop offers some breathing room for potential buyers. What’s Driving the Shift? Cooling inflation expectations and Fed rate cut optimism. Softening in new purchase contracts (-2.3% in 4 weeks). Lower listings in 20 of the top 50 metro areas — a sign some sellers are holding back. Affordability Still a Challenge Despite better bargaining power for buyers, affordability remains tight. Many economists say significantly lower rates are needed to truly stimulate demand. MoneyMaster Take — Key Insights: Lower mortgage rates = slight relief for homebuyers. Housing market tilts toward buyers — more choice, more negotiation power. But affordability headwinds persist — don’t expect a boom.