This was a 64% increase from the amount net sold in the previous week, MIDF Research said today.

For Bursa Malaysia, the worst day of last week’s five trading days was Monday, when the foreign funds sold RM183.1 million worth of equity.

The selling pressure moderated to Thursday when they sold a total of RM58.2 million of their interests before the pace picked up again on Friday, which saw an outflow of RM140.1 million.

Year to date, foreign investors have net sold RM1.24 billion worth of domestic equities.

“Sectors that saw net foreign inflows were construction (RM67.9 million), technology (RM13.2 million) as well as transportation and logistics (RM7.8 million), while the sectors that saw net foreign outflows were financial services (down RM359.5 million), industrial products and services (RM90.3 million) and consumer products and services (RM63.5 million),” it said.

On the other hand, the local institutions had net bought domestic equities for the second consecutive week to the tune of RM461.3 million, about 56% higher than the amount they had net bought the last two weeks.

“Every trading day last week was a net buying day by the local institutions, with the heaviest inflow recorded on Monday at RM161.1 million,” it said.

Year to date, the research firm said, local institutions had net bought RM1.20 billion worth of domestic equities.

“Local retailers continued to be net buyers for the third consecutive week at RM95.6 million and every trading day was a net buying day by them, except for Tuesday with a net outflow of RM4.4 million,” it said.

Year to date, MIDF Research said, local retailers were net buyers at RM44.5 million.

In terms of participation, it added that there was a decrease in average daily trading volume among local retailers (down 3.5%), local institutions (down 14.7%) and foreign investors (down 33.1%).