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KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Last-minute buying lifted Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index, reversing earlier losses as higher oil prices boosted sentiment for energy- and chemical-related counters. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said regional markets remained under pressure following negative cues from Wall Street, compounded by surging oil prices, mixed earnings, and a cautious US Federal Reserve stance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 1.60 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 1,722.02 from Wednesday’s close of 1,720.42. The benchmark index opened marginally lower at 1,720.23 and moved between a low of 1,712.14 and a high of 1,722.03 throughout the day. Market breadth, however, was negative, with losers trouncing gainers 816 to 360. A total of 546 counters were unchanged, 950 were untraded, and 77 were suspended. Turnover declined to 2.91 billion un...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended on a softer note today, as investors took profit in oil-related counters following news of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) decision to withdraw from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. The decline in the benchmark index was also in line with the weaker overnight performance on Wall Street, as investors turned more defensive ahead of the US Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting later tonight, said IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 9.18 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 1,720.42 from Tuesday’s close of 1,729.60. The benchmark index, which opened 2.05 points higher at 1,731.65, moved within a range of 1,718.45 to 1,733.84 throughout the session. Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 617 to 485. A total of 619 counters were u...

Foreign automakers have cautioned that  affordable vehicle models could disappear from the US market  if the  US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)  is not renewed or revised favorably. Trade Policy Uncertainty Clouds Auto Sector Outlook Industry players have raised concerns to the administration of  Donald Trump  that without a stable trade framework: Producing  low-cost vehicles may become uneconomical Supply chains across  North America could be disrupted The USMCA, which currently allows  tariff-free automotive trade , is under review, with negotiations facing delays amid rising tensions. Tariffs Threaten Cost Structure The situation has been exacerbated by  25% tariffs on auto imports  from Mexico and Canada imposed last year. These tariffs have: Increased  production costs Pressured margins for automakers Made  entry-level vehicles less viable  in the US market Without relief, manufacturers may  scale back or ...

Market Snapshot STI:  4,904.33 (+0.24%) Volume / Value:  110.57M / S$109.45M Advancers / Decliners:  103 / 55 Wall Street Mixed Ahead of Fed Decision US markets showed a mixed performance as investors stayed cautious before the upcoming Federal Reserve decision. Nasdaq Composite Index :  +0.2% (record high) S&P 500 Index :  +0.1% (record high) Dow Jones Industrial Average :  -0.1% Key point:   Markets are in a wait-and-see mode , focusing on Fed signals and inflation risks from rising oil prices. AI-related stocks continued to lead gains: Intel  +3% SanDisk  +8.1% Micron Technology  +5.6% Taiwan Semiconductor  +0.6% Singapore Manufacturing Beats Expectations Singapore’s factory sector delivered a strong surprise: March output: +10.1% YoY  (vs forecast) MoM growth: +4.7% Q1 growth: 7.9% YoY (above 5% estimate) Excluding biomedical: +13.5% YoY growth Key point:   Manufacturing rebound is driven by strong electronics dema...

Advantest Corp.  shares fell sharply after the company issued a  weaker-than-expected outlook , highlighting ongoing  capacity constraints  despite booming demand from the AI sector. Stock Drops on Soft Guidance Advantest shares declined as much as  6.9% , marking the  largest intraday fall in nearly a month . The pullback comes after: The stock had already surged  over 50% year-to-date Investors had priced in  strong AI-driven growth expectations Outlook Miss Overshadows Strong Results The company guided for: Operating income: ¥627.5 billion , below Analyst expectations: ¥650.8 billion This weaker outlook overshadowed a strong quarterly performance: Operating income surged 139% YoY Profit margin reached 47% AI Demand Remains Strong, But Supply Is the Constraint Advantest benefits from its key role in the AI supply chain, supplying testing equipment for companies like  Nvidia . Demand drivers include: Rising complexity of AI chips Increased n...

Summary Malaysia’s benchmark index closed slightly lower, with mixed market activity and continued rotation across sectors. Market Performance Snapshot FBM KLCI:  1,717.27 ( -0.18% ) FBM Mid 70:  +0.53% FBM Small Cap:  +0.04% FBM ACE:  +0.12% Key Point: Broader market showed resilience, but heavyweights dragged the KLCI lower. Trading Activity Total Volume:  3.74 billion shares Total Value:  RM3.30 billion Gainers vs Losers:  579 gainers vs 599 losers Market sentiment remained  mixed with slight bearish tilt Ringgit Performance USD/MYR:  3.9525 SGD/MYR:  3.1041 Key Point: Ringgit remained relatively stable despite market weakness. Top Movers (KLCI) Gainers Telekom Malaysia (+6.76%) Press Metal (+4.51%) Sime Darby (+2.33%) YTL Corp (+1.49%) Losers Sunway Healthcare (-3.13%) Hong Leong Bank (-1.93%) CIMB (-1.92%) Public Bank (-1.87%) Key Point: Gains led by telco & industrials, while banks pressured the index. Most Active Stocks Luster...

 KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia remained in positive territory at mid-afternoon, rising 0.33 per cent, supported by gains in artificial intelligence (AI)-related and metals-linked counters, as stalled US-Iran talks heightened concerns over supply disruptions, thereby underpinning commodity prices. Stronger China gross domestic product (GDP), which expanded 5.0 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, and renewed enthusiasm surrounding AI boosted investor sentiment, although a lack of progress in peace talks kept gains modest. At 3 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) edged up 5.79 points to 1,726.13 from last Friday’s close of 1,720.34. The benchmark index opened 4.13 points higher at 1,724.47. Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 507 to 419, while 517 counters were unchanged, 1,305 untraded and 67 suspended. Turnover...

Summary Global markets enter a  high-stakes week , with  AI-driven optimism colliding with macro and geopolitical risks . While semiconductor strength continues to support equities, upcoming  Big Tech earnings and Fed signals  will determine whether the rally can extend or stall. Bursa Malaysia: Range-Bound Amid External Uncertainty The  FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI  ended last week  up ~1.5% at 1,720.34 , supported by easing geopolitical tensions and stronger trade data. However, momentum faded toward week’s end due to  profit-taking , with: Weakness in  plantations, utilities, and healthcare Ringgit slightly softer at  ~3.96/USD The market is expected to remain  range-bound above 1,700 , with direction dependent on: Oil price movements US-Iran developments Foreign fund flows Wall Street: AI Rally Meets Reality Check US markets delivered a mixed performance: Nasdaq Composite   +1.5% S&P 500  at  record highs Dow Jone...

Amazon  heads into its April 29 earnings with investors focused on one key theme:  whether its aggressive AI investments, particularly its partnership with Anthropic, can justify rising costs and sustain growth momentum . Strong Growth Expected, But Not the Main Focus Consensus estimates point to steady performance: Revenue:  ~US$177.2 billion ( +13.8% YoY ) EPS:  ~US$1.65 ( +4% YoY ) However, the spotlight is less on headline numbers and more on  AI monetisation, AWS growth, and capital allocation . AI Partnership Driving Bullish Sentiment Amazon’s deepening relationship with  Anthropic  is a major catalyst: Additional US$5 billion investment announced Total potential commitment of up to  US$20 billion This strengthens Amazon’s  “AI ecosystem strategy” , positioning AWS as a platform for  third-party and proprietary AI models . AWS Growth and AI Monetisation Key Investors will closely watch  Amazon Web Services : AI annualised reve...

India’s IT sector is facing a  deepening downturn , with over  US$115 billion in market value erased , as weak earnings and rising AI disruption shake investor confidence. Earnings Disappoint, Growth Outlook Weakens Recent results from major players have reinforced concerns: Infosys  guided  below-expectation revenue growth HCL Technologies  reported a  profit miss , triggering multiple downgrades The  Nifty IT Index  fell over  5% , hitting its  lowest level since mid-2023 , and is now  down ~25% in 2026 , making it the  worst-performing sector in India . Twin Headwinds: Macro Weakness and AI Disruption The sector is grappling with  two major challenges : Weak global demand Ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty are  reducing discretionary IT spending Clients are  delaying large, multi-year projects Rapid rise of AI AI is  disrupting traditional outsourcing models Firms must  adapt quic...

Global markets surged on the back of a  semiconductor-driven rally , while Malaysia’s benchmark index edged lower as  sector rotation and domestic factors capped gains . Wall Street Hits Record Highs on AI Momentum US equities extended gains, led by a strong earnings-driven rally: S&P 500   +0.8% (record high) Nasdaq Composite   +1.63% (record high) Dow Jones Industrial Average   -0.16% The surge was driven by  Intel , which jumped  23.6%  after a  blowout Q1 earnings beat and strong guidance , sparking a broad rally across semiconductor stocks. Other notable gainers: Advanced Micro Devices   +13.9% Arm Holdings   +14.8% Qualcomm   +11.1% Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co   +5.2% (record high) This reinforces the  AI and semiconductor supercycle narrative , which continues to dominate global equity markets. Bursa Malaysia Ends Slightly Lower The  FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI  slipped  0.08% to 1,720...

Asian markets are increasingly moving in  two different directions , as the  AI-driven tech rally in North Asia  contrasts sharply with  oil-driven weakness in South and Southeast Asia . AI Powerhouses Drive North Asia to Record Highs Markets in North Asia continue to outperform, supported by  strong semiconductor demand and AI momentum . Key benchmarks: Taiex   +~10% since the war began Kospi   +~4% Nikkei 225  trending higher This rally is led by chip giants such as: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Samsung Electronics SK hynix These firms are deeply embedded in the  global AI supply chain , attracting sustained investor inflows despite geopolitical risks. South & Southeast Asia Struggle Under Oil Pressure In contrast, markets in South and Southeast Asia are underperforming: Nifty 50   -~5% MSCI ASEAN Index   -~7% Philippines & Indonesia indices  -10%+ The weakness reflects: Rising oil prices  increasing imp...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed marginally lower in line with the weaker performance of regional peers as investors refrained from taking long positions ahead of the weekend. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.36 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 1,720.34 from Thursday’s close of 1,721.70. The benchmark index opened 1.55 points higher at 1,723.25, and moved between 1,719.73 and 1,724.30 throughout the day.   In the broader market, gainers led losers 575 to 530, while 645 counters were unchanged, 998 untraded and 49 suspended. Turnover decreased to 3.22 billion units valued at RM3.25 billion from 3.48 billion units valued at RM3.10 billion on Thursday.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher today, lifted by selective buying in banking and telecommunications heavyweights amid improved sentiment following the extended ceasefire in West Asia. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 11.31 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 1,721.70 from Wednesday’s close of 1,710.39. The benchmark index opened 5.16 points higher at 1,715.55, and moved between 1,714.41 and 1,723.51 throughout the day.   In the broader market, gainers outpaced losers 706 to 485, while 562 counters were unchanged, 1,018 untraded and 43 suspended. Turnover expanded to 3.48 billion units valued at RM3.10 billion from 3.19 billion units valued at RM2.69 billion on Wednesday.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia snapped a four-day winning streak to close marginally lower today, as profit-taking followed mixed performances across regional markets. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 4.94 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 1,710.39 from Tuesday’s close of 1,715.33. The benchmark index opened 2.67 points higher at 1,718.00, and moved between 1,705.11 and 1,720.46 during the day.   In the broader market, losers led gainers 584 to 565, while 596 counters were unchanged, 1,014 untraded and 35 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.19 billion units valued at RM2.69 billion from 3.45 billion units valued at RM3.18 billion on Tuesday.

Singapore equities opened slightly lower on Wednesday, even as  strong export data highlighted resilience in the external sector , while global markets remained cautious amid geopolitical tensions. STI Slips as Global Sentiment Weakens The  FTSE Straits Times Index  edged down  0.11% to 5,009.32  in early trade. Market breadth was mildly positive: Advancers: 68 Decliners: 53 The muted performance reflects  cautious sentiment , tracking overnight weakness in US markets. Wall Street Falls on Renewed Geopolitical Risks US equities declined for a second straight session: S&P 500   -0.63% Dow Jones Industrial Average   -0.59% Nasdaq Composite   -0.59% The pullback was driven by  rising oil prices and renewed US-Iran tensions , which weighed on broader risk sentiment. However,  AI-related stocks outperformed , signaling continued investor interest in the sector. Singapore Exports Surge on Electronics Boom Singapore’s trade data surpri...