Bursa Malaysia closed higher on March 21. Traders bought selectively after recent dips. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLCI) gained 8.25 points or 0.48%. It closed at 1,711.56. This came from Thursday’s close of 1,703.31. The index opened higher. It traded between 1,705.12 and 1,715.80. Late buying lifted the market. Trading volume remained solid. Gainers beat losers. This shows resilience despite oil volatility.
Movers and Shakers
The KLCI’s rise came from energy and tech stocks. For example, Malaysian Pacific Industries rose 36 sen to RM31.12. Petronas Chemicals added 14 sen to RM4.26. Allianz gained 22 sen to RM22.06. On the other hand, banking names slipped. Maybank fell 12 sen to RM11.14. Public Bank eased 8 sen to RM4.51. High-volume actives featured energy and cyclicals. Analysts maintain the year-end target at 1,772-1,880 points. Reforms and earnings growth support this.
Policy Changes Impacting KLCI and Malaysia’s Market
No new policy announcements today. The Madani government continues its “year of implementation” push in 2026. The New Incentive Framework links manufacturing incentives to results. It began on March 1. The Capital Market Masterplan targets RM6.3 trillion market size by 2030. Budget 2026 keeps expanding SST and adds carbon tax. GEAR-uP aims for RM120 billion investments by 2028. This supports 4.3-4.5% GDP growth. OPR stays at 2.75%. Globally, US tariffs remain at 19% on Malaysia. Exemptions protect 60% of exports through the October 2025 deal.
Other News Potentially Impacting KLCI or Malaysia’s Market
The ringgit stayed stable near its 5-8 year high below RM4/USD. This boosts inflows. Manufacturing PMI hit a 20-month high of 50.2 in January. Producer prices fell 2.7% in December 2025. This shows low inflation. Q4 2025 GDP grew fast on domestic demand. 2026 growth forecast holds at 4.3-4.5%. AI data centres strengthen Malaysia as a China+1 hub. Renewables see more M&A. Industrial property leads the market. Sukuk issuance stays strong. Middle East tensions and oil volatility are watchpoints. Domestic reforms and oil reserve releases provide buffers.
Overall, the KLCI shows resilience. Selective buying helps. Domestic strengths support stability amid external volatility.