The FBM KLCI ended the week on a high note today, Friday, December 12, 2025, surging 12.42 points to close at 1,637.81. This marks the index’s highest close since early October, driven by aggressive bargain hunting and a strengthening Ringgit.
Here is the full breakdown of today’s market action, policy shifts, and global movers affecting the Malaysian bourse.
Market Snapshot: Bulls Take Charge
After opening slightly lower at 1,622.56, the benchmark index staged a strong recovery, rallying to an intraday high of 1,640.36 before settling at 1,637.81 (+0.76%).
- Volume: 1.69 billion units (Morning session data indicating robust turnover).
- Breadth: Positive, with gainers comfortably outpacing losers (558 vs 360 in early trade).
- Key Driver: Investors flocked to blue-chip stocks in the financial, consumer products, and telecommunications sectors, tracking Wall Street’s overnight rally and positive regional sentiment.
Movers and Shakers
The “Movers and Shakers” list today is dominated by heavyweights recovering lost ground and active interest in the energy and tech sectors.
Top Gainers (The Heavyweights):
- Tenaga Nasional (TNB): Climbed 20 sen to RM12.94, leading the charge in the utilities sector.
- Petronas Gas: Jumped 34 sen to RM17.62.
- Hong Leong Bank: Added 20 sen to RM21.80.
- IHH Healthcare: Advanced 11 sen to RM8.51.
- Maybank: Rose 8 sen to RM10.34.
Top Losers:
- Nestle: Slid 60 sen to RM113.60, continuing a trend of profit-taking in premium consumer goods.
- Dutch Lady: Shed 50 sen to RM29.60.
- Batu Kawan: Eased 14 sen to RM19.22.
Most Active Counters:
- Velesto Energy: Up 0.5 sen to 28 sen on heavy volume (964.9 million shares traded).
- Tanco Holdings: Rose 3 sen to RM1.18.
- Perak Transit: Gained 3.5 sen to 32 sen.
- V.S. Industry: Added 2 sen to 54 sen.
Policy & Economic Watch
Significant policy and economic shifts are influencing the KLCI’s current trajectory:
- Ringgit Hits 4-Year High: The Ringgit has rallied to a four-year high against the US Dollar. This currency strength is attracting foreign inflows but may weigh slightly on export-oriented tech counters like Inari, which is already facing softness in its core RF business.
- US Fed Rate Cut Ripples: Positive sentiment is largely underpinned by the recent interest rate cut by the United States Federal Reserve. This has improved global liquidity, prompting a “risk-on” mode in emerging markets like Malaysia.
- Malaysia’s Economic Resilience: Context from the Ministry of Finance indicates Malaysia exceeded its 2024 GDP target (reaching 5.1%) and successfully met fiscal deficit targets. This structural stability is providing a strong floor for the index in late 2025.
Blended News: Corporate & Global Updates
- Berjaya Air: Debuted the world’s first “All-Business Class” ATR 72-600, signaling confidence in the premium travel segment.
- Yinson GreenTech: Appointed Louisa Rachel as CEO, reinforcing the group’s pivot toward renewable energy—a sector Apex Securities remains constructive on due to the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
- Banking Sector Outlook: OCBC projects IP growth to ease to 3% following a stellar performance in 2025, suggesting a period of normalization ahead.
Market Outlook
Apex Securities expects the FBM KLCI to trade with an upward bias next week, supported by the resilient US equity backdrop and local window dressing activities as the year draws to a close. The immediate resistance is seen at 1,640, while support remains firm at 1,620.