FBM KLCI FUTURES LIKELY TO TRADE IN CAUTIOUS MODE NEXT WEEK

By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to remain in consolidation mode next week, in line with the cautious tone in the cash market.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the week ahead is likely to be driven by active sector rotation rather than a clear market direction.

“We expect trading to stay cautious ahead of key economic data releases next week, with focus on China’s February Foreign Direct Investment and the US March Purchasing Managers’ Index.

“After a volatile mid-March, during which the FBM KLCI tested 1,685 before recovering to the 1,720-1,730 range, we anticipate the market to remain in a cautious consolidation phase,” he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, he said commodity-linked sectors, particularly plantations and upstream energy, are expected to outperform amid rising crude palm oil and crude oil prices.

“We advise investors to closely monitor developments in West Asia conflict, with the FBM KLCI likely to trade within a volatile 1,690-1,740 range next week,” he added. 

On a Friday-to-Thursday basis, the March 2026 contract rose 38.5 points to 1,719.50, the April 2026 contract increased 38.0 points to 1,721.0, June 2026 gained 39.0 points to 1,720.50, and September 2026 went up 34.0 points to 1,700.0.

The turnover for the week was lower at 30,374 lots from 46,465 lots last week, while open interest gained to 42,127 contracts from 40,472 contracts previously.

On a Friday-to-Thursday basis, the FBM KLCI rose 21.86 points to 1,720.71 from 1,698.85 a week earlier.

Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be closed from Friday to Monday (March 20-23, 2026) for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and will resume operations on Tuesday (March 24, 2026).

-- BERNAMA