UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Sedek Jantan said notably, foreign investors have re-emerged as net buyers, with positive net inflows recorded on Wednesday and Thursday.

“This development aligns with our view last week, which outlined several key convictions: the market bottoming on April 9, 2025; geopolitical drivers dominate; tariff escalation likely peaked (at least for most countries); and technical rebound in play,” he told Bernama.

Sedek said in today’s session, export-oriented sectors, namely chemicals, semiconductors and industrials, exhibited consistent strength, though many counters continue to trade below their one-month highs.

“These trends suggest improving sentiment, particularly for trade-sensitive stocks.

“Additionally, we observe an emerging sectoral rotation from consumer-linked names towards export-oriented plays, which could lead the market in the near-term,” he added.

Regarding the positive market sentiment following the meeting between investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and the US officials in Washington, along with the easing of US-China trade tensions, he remarked that these developments have come at the right time.

“Export-oriented stocks (index-linked components) began rising after midday, contributing to the upward movement of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI), which climbed up at 3.30pm amid choppy trading.

“Additionally, foreign institutional investors generally increase their participation in the Malaysian market during the afternoon session, coinciding with higher liquidity levels observed in the latter part of the trading day.

“We’re hopeful that today will see net foreign buying,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the market pared earlier gains amid profit-taking in energy and banking heavyweights, but still managed to close in positive territory.

“Key regional indices advanced on renewed optimism over easing US-China trade tensions, with sentiment further lifted by expectations of an earlier-than-expected US Federal Reserve rate cut,” he said.

Thong is positive about the impact of the de-escalating trade tensions between the US and China, as this is expected to reduce market volatility and restore investors’ confidence in the local market.

At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 2.68 points, or 0.18%, to 1,509.20 from yesterday’s close of 1,506.52.

The benchmark index opened 5.12 points better at 1,511.64, and moved between 1,505.68 and 1,512.29 throughout the day.

Market breadth was positive, with advancers beating decliners 651 to 325, while 434 counters were unchanged, 1,047 untraded, and 39 suspended.

Turnover improved to 3.10 billion units valued at RM1.95 billion against yesterday’s 3.08 billion units valued at RM2.14 billion.

Among the heavyweights, CIMB added 1 sen to RM6.99, Maybank eased 8 sen to RM9.87, Public Bank and IHH Healthcare went down 1 sen each to RM4.36 and RM6.87, respectively, and Tenaga Nasional lost 4 sen to RM13.56.

As for the actives, Richtech gained 3 sen to 27.5 sen, NationGate added 12 sen to RM1.30, MyEG Services inched up 1 sen to 90.5 sen, Tanco edged up 0.5 sen to 22.5 sen, and Bina Puri shed 11 sen to 26.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index advanced 65.30 points to 11,219.84, the FBMT 100 Index increased 53.77 points to 10,989.92, the FBM Emas Shariah Index jumped 94.94 points to 11,084.26, the FBM 70 Index soared 213.92 points to 15,791.10, and the FBM ACE Index put on 20.07 points to 4,623.57.

Sector-wise, the financial services index slid 4.73 points to 17,991.19, while the industrial products and services index firmed 2.82 points to 148.73, the energy index gained 8.84 points to 674.68, and the plantation index improved 31.56 points to 7,224.92.

The Main Market volume declined to 1.43 billion units worth RM1.70 billion against yesterday’s 1.50 billion units worth RM1.92 billion.

Warrants turnover advanced to 1.29 billion units valued at RM128.76 million from 1.23 billion units valued at RM120.59 million previously.

The ACE Market volume expanded to 378.54 million units worth RM120.71 million compared to 353.04 million units worth RM107.88 million yesterday.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 188.91 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (206.10 million), construction (142.32 million), technology (254.67 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (112.94 million), property (205.17 million), plantation (21.87 million), REITs (12.36 million), closed/fund (11,400), energy (121.05 million), healthcare (44.55 million), telecommunications and media (23.48 million), transportation and logistics (54.45 million), utilities (40.90 million), and business trusts (nil).