Bursa Malaysia ends lower as investors await US tariff outcome, policy clarity
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) shaved 6.56 points, or 0.43 per cent, to close at 1,533.76, compared to yesterday's close of 1,540.32.
The benchmark index opened 1.66 points lower at 1,538.66 and moved between 1,525.98 and 1,539.82 throughout the trading session.
In the broader market, losers led gainers 601 to 356, while 479 counters were unchanged and 1,090 untraded, with 44 suspended.
Turnover slipped further to 2.86 billion worth RM2.16 billion from 2.97 billion shares worth RM2.3 billion on Thursday.
SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes explained that the absence of a domestic trade deal has left the FBM KLCI a bit out of sync with the global risk rally.
"But next week could bring a ray of light, especially if Malaysia secures a favourable trade agreement with the US or if US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's meeting with Chinese officials in Stockholm makes progress, either by extending tariff relief or building a stronger framework for cooperation," he told Bernama.
Southeast Asian neighbours have sealed deals with the US for lower tariffs, of which Indonesia's exports to the US will be subject to a 19 per cent tariff and Vietnam (20 per cent for general goods, 40 per cent for goods transshipped through Vietnam).
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the FBM KLCI closed lower in tandem with the regional sell-off.
"Markets across Asia ended lower as investors turned cautious, taking profits ahead of a significant week that includes the US tariff deadline set by President Donald Trump and multiple monetary policy decisions.
"Trump continued urging US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell to ease monetary policy during an uncommon visit to the Federal Reserve, although he downplayed the possibility of firing Powell, a threat he has raised in the past," he said.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.09 per cent to close at 25,388.35, Singapore's Straits Times Index erased 0.40 per cent to 4,255.81, Japan's Nikkei 225 shed 0.88 per cent to 41,456.23 but South Korea's Kospi gained 0.18 per cent to 3,196.05.
Of the heavyweight stocks, Maybank erased nine sen to RM9.54, Public Bank was down two sen to RM4.29, Tenaga Nasional lost 34 sen to RM13.60, but CIMB earned five sen to RM6.75, IHH Healthcare, CelcomDigi and Press Metal bagged one sen each to RM6.66, RM3.84 and RM5.34.
Among the most active stocks, NexG advanced one sen to 52.5 sen, Focus Dynamics and Tanco were flat at one sen and 91.5 sen respectively, and Zetrix lost half-a-sen to 91 sen.
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