BURSA MALAYSIA EXTENDS UPTREND AMID IMPROVING MARKET SENTIMENT

By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia extended yesterday’s uptrend to close on a firmer footing today, staying above the 1,500 mark, supported by improving market sentiment amid easing US-China trade tensions, despite mixed performances across regional markets.

At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 5.33 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 1,506.52 from Wednesday’s close of 1,501.19.

The benchmark index opened 0.64 of a point lower at 1,500.55, and moved between 1,500.40 and 1,507.45 throughout the day.

Market breadth was positive, with advancers beating decliners 462 to 426, while 457 counters were unchanged, 1,070 untraded, and 13 suspended.

Turnover improved to 3.08 billion units valued at RM2.14 billion against Wednesday’s 2.99 billion units valued at RM2.08 billion.   

UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said, domestically, the sustained strength in financial services heavyweights, underpinned by renewed institutional participation, remained a key driver of market resilience. 

He said Malaysia’s latest trade data reaffirmed its external robustness, adding to the bullish undertone. 

“Exports rose 6.8 per cent year-on-year in March 2025, with the United States (US) emerging as Malaysia’s largest export destination.

“Shipments to the US jumped 50.8 per cent to RM22.7 billion, driven by strong demand for electrical and electronics (E&E) products (+68.3 per cent), other manufactured goods (+90.4 per cent), and processed food (+96.1 per cent).

“These figures underscore Malaysia’s strategic relevance within the global high-tech and value-added supply chains,” he told Bernama. 

Meanwhile, Mohd Sedek said, while the US’s 24 per cent reciprocal tariff, effective April 9, remains a significant overhang, recent diplomatic developments have helped temper market concerns.

“The ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meeting on April 10 conveyed a clear regional commitment to engagement over retaliation, reducing fears of a broader trade escalation.

“Investor confidence was further supported by the ongoing visit of Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz to Washington, where he is meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and senior officials,” he said. 

He said that while Tengku Zafrul’s talks with Washington are exploratory rather than conclusive, they aim to reinforce Malaysia’s pivotal role in the Asia-US semiconductor and E&E supply networks, while also addressing compliance-related misconceptions.

“Taken together, these developments suggest a more constructive policy trajectory ahead. If diplomatic momentum continues to build, the case for a re-rating in Malaysian equities -- particularly in trade-sensitive and export-oriented sectors -- remains compelling,” he said. 

Among the heavyweights, Tenaga Nasional put on 10 sen to RM13.60, CIMB went up 13 sen to RM6.98, IHH Healthcare was 2.0 sen higher at RM6.88, while Public Bank eased 3.0 sen to RM4.37 and Maybank was flat at RM9.95. 

As for the actives, Bina Puri rose 3.0 sen to 37.5 sen, SFP Tech and My E.G. Services edged up half-a-sen to 21 sen and 89.5 sen, respectively, Pos Malaysia perked up 5.5 sen to 29 sen, and Tanco climbed 1.0 sen 85.5 sen. 

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index advanced 32.94 points to 11,154.54, the FBMT 100 Index increased 33.39 points at 10,936.15, the FBM Emas Shariah Index jumped 42.68 points to 10,989.32, the FBM 70 Index garnered 26.30 points to 15,577.18, and the FBM ACE Index inched up 0.81 of-a-point to 4,603.50. 

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index climbed 57.71 points to 17,995.92, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.72 of-a-point to 145.91, the Energy Index gained 4.11 points to 665.84, while the Plantation Index dipped 21.13 points to 7,193.36. 

The Main Market volume expanded to 1.50 billion units worth RM1.92 billion against yesterday’s 1.37 billion units worth RM1.83 billion. 

Warrants turnover improved to 1.23 billion units valued at RM120.59 million from 1.19 billion units valued at RM117.86 million previously. 

The ACE Market volume declined to 353.04 million units worth RM107.88 million compared to 427.40 million units worth RM130.50 million on Wednesday. 

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 188.02 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (208.83 million), construction (228.89 million), technology (199.57 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (100.81 million), property (181.42 million), plantation (13.12 million), REITs (21.98 million), closed/fund (117,400), energy (120.20 million), healthcare (49.71 million), telecommunications and media (46.66 million), transportation and logistics (65.70 million), utilities (74.38 million), and business trusts (133,700).

-- BERNAMA