UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Sedek Jantan said, domestically, the sustained strength in financial services heavyweights, underpinned by renewed institutional participation, remains a key driver of market resilience.
He said Malaysia’s latest trade data reaffirmed its external robustness, adding to the bullish undertone.
“Exports rose 6.8% year-on-year in March 2025, with the US emerging as Malaysia’s largest export destination.
“Shipments to the US jumped 50.8% to RM22.7 billion, driven by strong demand for electrical and electronics (E&E) products (68.3%), other manufactured goods (90.4%), and processed food (96.1%).
“These figures underscore Malaysia’s strategic relevance within the global high-tech and value-added supply chains,” he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, Sedek said, while the US’s 24% reciprocal tariff, effective April 9, remains a significant overhang, recent diplomatic developments have helped temper market concerns.
“The Asean Economic Ministers’ meeting on April 10 conveyed a clear regional commitment to engagement over retaliation, reducing fears of a broader trade escalation.
“Investor confidence was further supported by the ongoing visit of Malaysia’s investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz to Washington, where he is meeting with US trade representative Jamieson Greer and senior officials,” he said.
Sedek said that while Tengku Zafrul’s talks with Washington are exploratory rather than conclusive, they aim to reinforce Malaysia’s pivotal role in the Asia-US semiconductor and E&E supply networks, while also addressing compliance-related misconceptions.
“Taken together, these developments suggest a more constructive policy trajectory ahead.
“If diplomatic momentum continues to build, the case for a re-rating in Malaysian equities – particularly in trade-sensitive and export-oriented sectors – remains compelling,” he said.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 5.33 points, or 0.36%, to 1,506.52 from yesterday’s close of 1,501.19.
The benchmark index opened 0.64 of-a-point lower at 1,500.55, and moved between 1,500.40 and 1,507.45 throughout the day.
Market breadth was positive, with advancers beating decliners 462 to 426, while 457 counters were unchanged, 1,070 untraded, and 13 suspended.
Turnover improved to 3.08 billion units valued at RM2.14 billion against yesterday’s 2.99 billion units valued at RM2.08 billion.
Among the heavyweights, Tenaga Nasional put on 10 sen to RM13.60, CIMB went up 13 sen to RM6.98, IHH Healthcare was two sen higher at RM6.88, while Public Bank eased three sen to RM4.37 and Maybank was flat at RM9.95.
As for the actives, Bina Puri rose three sen to 37.5 sen, SFP Tech and MyEG Services edged up 0.5 sen each to 21 sen and 89.5 sen, respectively, Pos Malaysia perked up 5.5 sen to 29 sen, and Tanco climbed one sen to 85.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index advanced 32.94 points to 11,154.54, the FBMT 100 Index increased 33.39 points to 10,936.15, the FBM Emas Shariah Index jumped 42.68 points to 10,989.32, the FBM 70 Index garnered 26.30 points to 15,577.18, and the FBM ACE Index inched up 0.81 of-a-point to 4,603.50.
Sector-wise, the financial services index climbed 57.71 points to 17,995.92, the industrial products and services index edged up 0.72 of-a-point to 145.91, the energy index gained 4.11 points to 665.84, while the plantation index dipped 21.13 points to 7,193.36.
The Main Market volume expanded to 1.50 billion units worth RM1.92 billion against yesterday’s 1.37 billion units worth RM1.83 billion.
Warrants turnover improved to 1.23 billion units valued at RM120.59 million from 1.19 billion units valued at RM117.86 million previously.
The ACE Market volume declined to 353.04 million units worth RM107.88 million compared to 427.40 million units worth RM130.50 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 188.02 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (208.83 million), construction (228.89 million), technology (199.57 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (100.81 million), property (181.42 million), plantation (13.12 million), REITs (21.98 million), closed/fund (117,400), energy (120.20 million), healthcare (49.71 million), telecommunications and media (46.66 million), transportation and logistics (65.70 million), utilities (74.38 million), and business trusts (133,700).