In its fund flow report for the week ended Aug 25, MIDF Research noted that the week began with a net foreign inflow of RM6.2 million, before shifting to outflows from Tuesday to Thursday, amounting to RM213.9 million.

The net foreign inflow resumed on Friday at RM54.4 million, following the unveiling of favourable inflation statistics which showed a 2% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in Malaysia’s consumer price index (CPI) for July 2023.

The marginal rise marked the smallest CPI growth in two years, noted MIDF.

The report added that foreign investors had snapped up certain stocks such as Boustead Plantations (RM67.6 million), UMW (RM44.6 million) and Malaysia Airports (RM20.8 million).

On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the research house noted that foreign investors have been net sellers of domestic equities at RM2.56 billion.

The research house highlighted that the top three sectors with the highest net foreign inflows were utilities (RM122.4 million), plantation (RM112.2 million) and property (RM54.0 million).

Meanwhile, it noted that the top three sectors that posted the highest net foreign outflows were financial services (RM222.3 million), consumer products and services (RM107.1 million) as well as transportation and logistics (RM60.2 million).

“Local institutions maintained their status as net buyers for the second consecutive week at RM277.3 million. YTD, local institutions netted RM3.04 billion in inflows.

“Entering the seventh consecutive week, local retailers continued their net selling trend with RM124 million worth of domestic equities sold last week, bringing the segment’s YTD net outflow to RM472.9 million,” it said.

In terms of participation, MIDF said retail investors, local institutions and foreign investors’ average daily trading volume had declined by 1.8%, 2.6% and 0.5%, respectively.