KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended at its intraday low on Thursday as investor sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing foreign outflows, although the recent weakness may present bargain-hunting opportunities in fundamentally sound blue-chip counters. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 9.33 points, or 0.54 per cent, to 1,708.36, from yesterday’s close of 1,717.69. The benchmark index, which opened 3.74 points higher at 1,721.43, hit an intraday high of 1,722.50 in early trade before losing momentum for the rest of the day. Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 656 to 508, while 565 counters were unchanged, 989 untraded and 32 suspended. Turnover fell to 3.49 billion units worth RM3.70 billion compared with 4.15 billion units worth RM4.29 billion on Wednesday.
Singapore equities showed mixed performance on March 30, with energy-linked and defensive names outperforming, while broader sentiment remained cautious amid global macro uncertainty.
STI Movers: Energy and Industrials Outperform
The FTSE Singapore Straits Times Index saw selective buying, led by:
- Sembcorp Industries (+2.77%) – Top gainer, supported by energy price tailwinds
- UOL Group (+2.08%)
- Wilmar International (+1.58%)
- Mapletree PanAsia Commercial Trust (+1.53%)
- Seatrium (+1.28%)
On the downside:
- Thai Beverage (-1.15%) led decliners
- Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (-1.04%)
- Dairy Farm International (-0.92%)
REITs: Volatility Continues Despite Select Bargain Hunting
The S-REIT space remained volatile amid rising yields and macro pressure:
Top gainers:
- Prime US REIT (+2.96%)
- KORE REIT (+2.30%)
- Alpha Integrated REIT (+2.17%)
Top losers:
- IREIT Global (-10.44%) – sharp selloff
- CapitaLand India Trust (-2.83%)
Top-Traded Stocks: Banks Dominate Liquidity
Trading activity remained concentrated in Singapore banks and blue chips:
- DBS Group Holdings (-0.31%) – Most active (S$463M turnover)
- OCBC Bank (+0.28%)
- United Overseas Bank (-0.84%)
- Singtel (+0.40%)
Market Interpretation: Energy Winners vs Rate-Sensitive Pressure
The day’s price action reflects a clear sector divergence:
- Energy and industrial names outperform on rising oil prices
- REITs and rate-sensitive sectors remain under pressure due to elevated yields
- Banks see mixed performance as higher rates support margins but raise growth concerns
Investor Takeaways
- Sembcorp Industries led gains, benefiting from energy price strength.
- REITs remain volatile, with sharp declines in selected names like IREIT Global.
- Banking stocks dominate liquidity, reflecting institutional positioning.
- Market shows rotation into energy and defensives amid global uncertainty.
- Rising oil prices and yields continue to drive sector divergence in Singapore equities.
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