Key Highlights
- FBM KLCI closed at 1,524.59 points, dipping 0.08% as market sentiment turned cautious.
- Trading volume stood at 3.50 billion units with a total market value of RM2.68 billion.
- Losers outpaced gainers with 607 stocks down and 342 up.
Notable Movers
Top Gainers
- Axiata Group Bhd: Rose 2.37% to RM2.59 on strong trading volume and positive outlook.
- YTL Power International Bhd: Gained 0.96%, closing at RM4.19, continuing its uptrend.
- IHH Healthcare Bhd: Added 0.61% to RM6.63, reflecting confidence in the healthcare sector.
- Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd: Up 0.59%, trading actively as investors sought resilient blue chips.
Top Losers
- Sunway Bhd: Dropped 3.36% to RM4.89 with high volume. The decline followed negative sentiment tied to news of a probe into its construction division.
- Sunway Construction Group Bhd: Fell 8.19% after being linked to the same investigation. It was the most traded stock of the day.
- Hong Leong Bank Bhd: Down by 1.45%, amid broad banking sector caution.
- Gamuda Bhd: Lost 1.31%, partly on profit-taking and sector-wide pressure.
Most Active Stocks
| Company | Volume (mil shares) | Price Change (RM) | Close (RM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunway Construction Group Bhd | 110.6 | -0.490 | 5.490 |
| NexG Bhd | 80.9 | 0.005 | 0.015 |
| Pharmaniaga Bhd | 63.8 | 0.065 | 0.220 |
| Tanco Holdings Bhd | 53.6 | -0.005 | 0.995 |
Policy and Global Impact
Domestic Developments
- Interest Rate Adjustment: Bank Negara Malaysia lowered the Overnight Policy Rate by 25 basis points to 2.75%, supporting growth but signaling caution over global headwinds.
- Fiscal Changes: The government plans to expand the sales and service tax (SST) and adjust subsidies, as part of larger fiscal reforms to improve Malaysia’s financial outlook.
Global Influences
- New US Tariffs: The US announced a 25% tariff on selected Malaysian exports, effective August 1, affecting the electrical and electronics sector most. This move may pressure export-oriented stocks.
- External Market Conditions: Uncertainty in global demand and supply chains continues to weigh on investor sentiment, in line with softening manufacturing activity worldwide.
Economic Indicators
- Malaysian Ringgit: The USD/MYR closed at 4.2347, up 5.60% year-to-date.
- GDP Growth: Malaysia’s second quarter GDP grew 4.5%, outpacing expectations, mainly backed by the services and construction sectors.
Investor Sentiment & Outlook
- The market shows near-term volatility, especially in construction, banking, and exporters.
- Ongoing fiscal reforms and monetary easing provide some cushion, but external risks remain significant.
- Eyes remain on developments in the Sunway probe and fallout from the US tariff increase.