KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia snapped its five-day winning streak to close lower on Wednesday, as investors took profit following a cumulative gain of 4.25 per cent over the past five sessions, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 14.76 points or 0.83 per cent to 1,756.49 from Tuesday’s close of 1,771.25. The market bellwether opened 1.46 points lower at 1,769.79, marking the day’s high, and hit a low of 1,750.05 during the mid-afternoon session. Market breadth was negative with losers trouncing gainers 876 to 384, while 525 counters were unchanged, 964 untraded and 94 suspended. Turnover improved to 3.65 billion units worth RM4.41 billion from Tuesday's 3.58 billion units worth RM4.46 billion.
Based on Bloomberg reporting, Chinese snack retailer Busy Ming Group Co surged as much as 88% in its Hong Kong trading debut after raising HK$3.67bn (US$470m), underscoring renewed risk appetite for China consumer and growth listings at the start of 2026.
Shares jumped to HK$445 from an offer price of HK$236.60, with retail investors subscribing nearly 1,900 times — a level that signals more than just deal-specific enthusiasm.
Why This IPO Matters for Investors
This debut is being read by markets as a sentiment signal for Hong Kong equities:
January IPO proceeds are on track for the strongest first-month start on record
Activity is being driven by AI-linked names and scalable consumer brands
Retail participation has returned aggressively after years of caution
Business Model: Value Consumption at Scale
Busy Ming’s appeal lies in its deflation-resistant, mass-market positioning:
Over 21,000 outlets nationwide
About 59% located in counties and townships
Products priced ~25% below supermarket averages
Direct sourcing model that cuts out middlemen
This aligns with China’s current consumption reality: trading down, not trading out.
Earnings Momentum Is Real
For the nine months ended Sept 30:
Net profit: 1.56bn yuan
>3x year-on-year growth
Unlike many recent listings, Busy Ming came to market with:
Demonstrated profitability
Clear expansion economics
Cash-generative operations
Cornerstone Backing Adds Credibility
The deal attracted heavyweight cornerstone investors:
Tencent Holdings Ltd
Fidelity International Ltd
Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd
Their participation likely:
Anchored pricing confidence
Reduced early selling pressure
Signalled institutional belief in long-term consumption themes
What to Watch After the Pop
For investors assessing sustainability:
Post-IPO lock-up behaviour and secondary market liquidity
Ability to maintain margins amid price-sensitive consumers
Competitive response from other low-cost snack and beverage brands
Bigger Picture Takeaway
Hong Kong IPO demand is clearly back
China consumer names tied to value-for-money spending are regaining investor favour
Markets are rewarding scale + profitability + clear positioning
Busy Ming’s debut may not mark the start of a full bull run — but it reopens the window for selective China equity exposure in 2026.
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