Bursa Malaysia opened May on a steady note. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLCI) rose 6.28 points or 0.36%. It closed at 1,744.68. This came from yesterday’s close of 1,738.40. The index opened higher and traded between 1,739.20 and 1,746.90. Trading volume stayed moderate. Gainers outnumbered losers. This reflects continued domestic buying interest as oil prices stabilised.
Movers and Shakers
Banking and energy stocks drove today’s gains. Maybank rose 14 sen to RM11.98 on firm risk appetite. Public Bank added 11 sen to RM5.06. CIMB Group gained 9 sen to RM8.23. Petronas Chemicals rose 16 sen to RM5.20 on stable domestic feedstock advantage. Gas Malaysia added 8 sen to RM5.54. On the other hand, some consumer names eased slightly. High-volume actives featured banking, energy, and selected 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 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.