Bursa Malaysia closed higher on April 24. Steady domestic buying and easing oil prices after the Iran ceasefire lifted sentiment. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLCI) gained 9.18 points or 0.53%. It closed at 1,727.49. The index opened at 1,720.80 and traded between 1,719.45 and 1,729.80. Trading volume was moderate. Gainers outnumbered losers. This shows continued resilience.
Movers and Shakers
Energy and banking stocks drove the gains today. Petronas Chemicals rose 20 sen to RM5.04 on stable domestic feedstock amid moderating Brent crude. Gas Malaysia added 12 sen to RM5.45. Hengyuan Refining gained 10 sen to RM1.74. Banking heavyweights like Maybank and Public Bank also rose on improved risk appetite. On the other hand, some consumer names eased slightly. 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 fresh policy announcements came out 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. Oil prices eased further after Iran ceasefire developments. Brent crude now trades around US$85-87 per barrel. This reduces inflationary fears and supports market sentiment. Malaysian energy companies like Petronas Chemicals, Gas Malaysia, and Hengyuan Refining continue to enjoy a competitive edge due to domestic gas feedstock. They remain less sensitive to global oil price swings. 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.