KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index edged higher at the close as bargain hunting emerged following Monday’s sharp sell-off, although it narrowly failed to reclaim the 1,600 level, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 3.83 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 1,599.58 from Monday’s close of 1,595.75. The index opened 3.18 points lower at 1,592.57, marking its intraday low, and reached an intraday high of 1,602.83 in early trading. On the broader market, decliners outnumbered gainers 751 to 331, while 499 counters were unchanged, 1,259 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 2.86 billion units worth RM2.42 billion against Monday’s 2.49 billion units worth RM2.38 billion.
Global equities staged a modest rebound on Friday after several sessions of heavy selling, as oil prices slipped below the $100 per barrel threshold. However, investors remain cautious as the escalating conflict involving Iran continues to threaten energy supply chains, raising concerns about inflation and interest rate trajectories.
While lower oil prices provided temporary relief to equity markets, the broader outlook remains clouded by geopolitical uncertainty and shifting expectations around central bank policy.
Oil Prices Ease but Energy Risks Persist
Oil markets remain the central driver of global financial sentiment.
Brent crude declined 1.5% to $98.89 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped to $93.31 per barrel. Despite the recent pullback, oil prices remain more than one-third higher than levels seen before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran two weeks ago.
Prices softened after an Indian oil tanker successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz, easing immediate concerns about supply disruptions. Additionally, the United States introduced temporary measures to alleviate energy market pressure, including a 30-day waiver allowing limited purchases of sanctioned Russian oil.
However, geopolitical tensions remain elevated. Iran’s leadership has threatened to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, a critical shipping route responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil supply.
The risk of further escalation intensified after US President Donald Trump signaled plans for stronger military actions against Iran in the coming week.
For markets, the implication is clear: oil volatility is likely to remain a key macro catalyst.
Equities Recover After Heavy Selling
Equity markets managed to recover some ground following several days of steep declines.
In the United States:
Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.66%
S&P 500 gained 0.57%
Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.55%
Market strategists noted that part of the rebound may reflect short-term technical exhaustion following aggressive selling earlier in the week.
Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone, said the modest recovery could simply reflect investor fatigue after multiple sessions of risk-off positioning, with markets closely tracking movements in oil prices.
European markets also turned positive later in the day. The STOXX 600 index climbed 0.4%, reversing earlier losses. However, the benchmark remains down more than 5% in March, marking its largest two-week decline in a year.
Stronger Dollar Reflects Risk-Off Sentiment
The US dollar continues to strengthen, reinforcing its role as the primary safe-haven currency during geopolitical shocks.
The dollar index is on track for its second consecutive weekly gain, rising about 2.5% since the conflict began in late February.
Other major currencies weakened:
Euro fell 0.25% to $1.148
Japanese yen weakened to 159 per dollar, its lowest level since July 2024
Japanese authorities warned they are prepared to intervene to stabilize the currency, though analysts note that intervention may be less effective amid strong global demand for dollars.
Rising Oil Prices Are Reshaping Interest Rate Expectations
Higher energy prices are also influencing inflation expectations and central bank policy outlooks.
Markets have significantly reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026.
Traders now expect just 20 basis points of easing
A month ago, markets had priced around 50 basis points of cuts
This shift reflects concerns that higher oil prices could feed into broader inflation pressures.
Two-year US Treasury yields, which closely track rate expectations, recently reached a six-month high before easing slightly.
Meanwhile, US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) inflation — the Fed’s preferred gauge — rose 0.3% in January, matching economists’ expectations.
At the same time, revised data showed US economic growth slowed more than previously estimated in the fourth quarter, reflecting weaker consumer spending and business investment.
Central Bank Week Could Be a Key Market Catalyst
Investor attention now turns to a packed calendar of central bank meetings next week, which could further shape market direction.
Policy decisions are expected from:
Federal Reserve
European Central Bank
Bank of England
Bank of Japan
Most economists expect rates to remain unchanged, though Australia’s central bank is widely expected to raise rates.
The policy signals from these meetings will be closely watched for guidance on how central banks balance inflation risks with slowing economic growth.
Investor Takeaways
Oil prices remain the key macro driver as geopolitical tensions involving Iran threaten global energy supply.
Equities rebounded modestly, but volatility is likely to persist amid uncertainty around oil and central bank policy.
Expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts have dropped sharply, reflecting fears of renewed inflation pressures.
The US dollar is strengthening as a safe haven, pressuring global currencies such as the euro and yen.
Next week’s central bank meetings could become the next major catalyst for global markets.
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