KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher on the final trading day of the week, finishing just a whisker away from the psychological 1,500 mark, lifted by positive regional cues and improved investor sentiment. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 16.13 points, or 1.09 per cent, to 1,499.40 compared to Thursday’s close of 1,483.27. The benchmark index opened 1.63 points lower at 1,481.64 and thereafter slipped to 1,480.52 in early trading before gaining strength to end the day at its intraday high. In the broader market, gainers thumped decliners 543 to 256, while 441 counters were unchanged, 1,183 untraded, and 29 others suspended. Turnover dwindled to 1.69 billion units valued at RM1.24 billion from 2.40 billion units valued at RM1.60 billion on Thursday.
Malaysia has welcomed the US decision to pause its sweeping tariff hikes, but Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz stressed that the volatile policy environment still poses major challenges for ASEAN.
What Happened:
US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on the planned increase in reciprocal tariffs, keeping a lower 10% tariff in place for now.
China is excluded, facing a steep 125% tariff for not cooperating on trade negotiations.
Malaysia's Stance:
Zafrul described the US decision as welcome, but warned that “significant challenges” remain due to policy uncertainty.
He emphasized Malaysia’s role in advocating for balanced and predictable trade through ASEAN.
“These latest developments will be discussed at the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting I’m chairing today,” he shared.
Malaysia's Trade Game Plan:
Trade diversification: Exploring new markets while strengthening existing ones
Reform agenda: Boosting competitiveness through economic reforms
Commitment to openness: Staying a reliable trade partner to both the US and China
Looking Ahead:
Zafrul reaffirmed that Malaysia will continue to navigate global uncertainties by:
Deepening ASEAN ties
Advancing regional resilience
Pushing for mutually beneficial trade solutions
While Malaysia supports the temporary relief from US tariffs, the government is focused on long-term strategies — from diversifying exports to strengthening regional cooperation — to guard against future volatility.
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