Bursa Malaysia opened the new week on a firm note. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLCI) rose 9.12 points or 0.53%. It closed at 1,723.68. This came from Friday’s close of 1,714.56. The index opened at 1,717.80 and traded between 1,715.90 and 1,726.45. Late buying lifted the market. Trading volume was steady. Gainers outnumbered losers. This rebound reflects easing oil prices after the Iran ceasefire and steady domestic buying interest.
Movers and Shakers
Energy and banking stocks led the gains today. Petronas Chemicals rose 22 sen to RM4.84 on stable domestic feedstock advantage amid moderating Brent crude. Gas Malaysia added 14 sen to RM5.25. Hengyuan Refining gained 10 sen to RM1.65. Banking heavyweights like Maybank and Public Bank also rose on improved risk appetite. On the other side, 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 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$86 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 compared to pure upstream players. 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.