Bursa Malaysia closed higher on April 15. Easing oil prices after further progress on the US-Iran ceasefire lifted sentiment. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLCI) rose 6.42 points or 0.38%. It closed at 1,694.54. This came from Tuesday’s close of 1,688.12. The index opened higher and held gains. Trading volume was moderate. Gainers beat losers. This shows resilience as Brent crude eased to around US$86 per barrel.
Movers and Shakers
Energy and banking stocks drove the gains. Petronas Chemicals rose 14 sen to RM4.92 on stable domestic feedstock costs. Gas Malaysia added 10 sen to RM5.11. Hengyuan Refining gained 8 sen to RM1.55 amid refining margin support. On the other hand, some consumer names eased. Nestle fell 10 sen to RM110.60. High-volume actives featured energy plays 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 fresh policies appeared 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 expands 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. Oil prices eased further after Iran ceasefire developments. Brent crude now trades around US$86 per barrel. This reduces inflationary fears and supports market sentiment. Malaysian energy companies like Petronas Chemicals, Gas Malaysia, and Hengyuan Refining continue to benefit from stable domestic feedstock and refining margins. 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 have eased with the ceasefire. Domestic reforms and oil reserve releases provide buffers.
Overall, the KLCI shows resilience. Selective buying helps. Domestic strengths support stability amid external volatility.