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KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia finished higher on Wednesday as bargain-hunting activities emerged following recent pullback in the market, analysts said.  At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 0.13 per cent, or 2.21 points, to 1,682.13 from Tuesday’s close of 1,679.92. The index opened 2.11 points better at 1,682.03 and moved between 1,680.49 and 1,690.66 throughout the trading session.  Market breadth was positive with gainers outpacing decliners 518 to 483, while 564 counters were unchanged, 1,175 untraded and 41 suspended. Turnover shrank to 2.76 billion units valued at RM2.42 billion against 3.35 billion units worth RM3.12 billion on Tuesday.

SK Hynix is moving closer to a US listing via ADRs after a massive AI-driven rally. The offering could raise billions, but the real objective is to attract global investors and close the valuation gap with US semiconductor peers. This is not about raising cash, it’s about re-rating the stock in the global AI race. What’s Really Happening SK Hynix is preparing to tap US markets at a time when: Its stock has surged over 300% on AI demand It dominates high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI chips Global investors are heavily concentrated in US-listed AI names By listing in the US, SK Hynix is positioning itself directly alongside companies like Nvidia and AMD in the same investment universe. Why This Matters This move reflects a bigger shift: Capital is flowing toward  AI leaders with global visibility US markets still command  valuation premiums Asian tech firms are increasingly seeking  direct access to global capital In simple terms, SK Hynix is not chang...

South Korean stocks rebounded sharply on Wednesday, with the KOSPI surging 4.1% after suffering a near 10% selloff a day earlier. The recovery was led by semiconductor heavyweights, with Samsung Electronics jumping more than 9% and SK Hynix gaining 5% as retail investors rushed to buy the dip. What's Driving the Rebound? Retail investors stepped in aggressively after Tuesday's selloff. FOMO-driven buying boosted leveraged ETF activity. Chip stocks recovered as investors looked ahead to Micron's upcoming earnings report. Why Investors Should Pay Attention The rebound highlights how quickly sentiment can swing in markets that have been driven by AI optimism and heavy retail participation. Key risks remain: Micron earnings this week US inflation and jobs data Elevated leverage in technology-related ETFs Key Takeaway The AI story remains intact, but recent moves show that valuations and sentiment are becoming increasingly sensitive to new catalysts. For investors, the latest re...

Malaysia's central bank is ramping up efforts to support the ringgit after the currency became Asia's weakest performer this month, highlighting growing pressure from global interest-rate expectations and political uncertainty. The ringgit has fallen 4.3% against the US dollar in June, underperforming most regional peers as investors rotate toward dollar assets amid expectations that US interest rates could remain higher for longer. Why Is the Ringgit Under Pressure? Several factors have weighed on sentiment: External Factors Rising expectations of further US rate hikes Stronger US dollar globally Reduced appetite for emerging-market currencies Domestic Factors Political uncertainty ahead of upcoming state elections Foreign fund outflows from regional markets Cautious investor positioning The combination has pushed the ringgit to become the worst-performing Asian currency this month. Bank Negara's Response Rather than intervening aggressively in currency markets, Bank Negar...

Global markets are entering a more volatile phase as investors reassess lofty technology valuations and the sustainability of massive AI-related capital spending. Asian equities traded mixed on Wednesday following a sharp sell-off in global technology and semiconductor shares, while bond markets signaled growing demand for safety amid concerns over economic uncertainty and interest rate expectations. What Changed? Just weeks ago, investors were focused on: AI-driven earnings optimism Falling geopolitical risks Expectations of monetary easing Now, markets are increasingly focused on: Rising AI infrastructure spending Higher-for-longer interest rates Elevated valuations in technology stocks Increased market volatility The result is a shift from momentum-driven buying toward more selective risk-taking. Technology Stocks Under Pressure The latest sell-off was led by technology and semiconductor names after investors began questioning whether current valuations fully reflect future earnings...

Global markets entered Tuesday with a mixed tone as investors rotated out of some of the year's biggest technology winners, even as AI-related semiconductor stocks continued to surge to fresh highs. While Wall Street's major indices weakened overnight, Singapore equities showed resilience, supported by domestic liquidity, retail participation, and continued government-backed market initiatives. Market Snapshot The Straits Times Index (STI) opened higher, rising 0.3% as buying interest remained healthy despite global market volatility. Key drivers supporting sentiment include: Continued deployment of Singapore's S$6.5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP) Strong retail participation Renewed interest in undervalued small- and mid-cap stocks This contrasts with the more volatile environment seen in global technology markets. AI Trade Faces Its First Reality Check The biggest story overnight was not the decline in US indices. It was the divergence within technology...

South Korean stocks suffered their biggest selloff in months on Tuesday, with the Kospi Index falling as much as 4.6% as investors rushed to lock in profits from high-flying technology shares. The decline was led by semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which dropped more than 5%, while foreign investors sold over 2 trillion won (US$1.3 billion) worth of Korean equities during the morning session. What Triggered the Selloff? Several factors appear to be driving the correction: Profit-taking after a powerful rally Valuation concerns in AI-related stocks Foreign investor selling Growing focus on Micron’s upcoming earnings results The Kospi had recently surged above the 9,000 level as investors piled into AI beneficiaries and largely ignored geopolitical concerns. However, after weeks of gains, the market had become increasingly overbought. Why Micron Matters Investors are now turning their attention to Micron Technology's earnings report later this week. The ...

Malaysia’s latest diesel subsidy reform is unlikely to become an inflation story. Instead, it is shaping up to be a fiscal management story. Under the expanded Budi Madani Diesel programme, eligible vehicle owners will continue to receive subsidised diesel through a targeted mechanism, while logistics operators under the SKDS scheme remain protected. As a result, the reform is designed to improve subsidy efficiency without creating a significant shock to transportation costs or consumer prices. Why Inflation Risks Remain Limited The market's biggest concern whenever fuel subsidies are adjusted is inflation. However, several factors suggest the impact should remain contained: Diesel accounts for only 0.2% of Malaysia’s CPI basket , limiting its direct influence on headline inflation. Logistics operators remain protected under SKDS , helping to prevent higher transportation costs from being passed on to consumers. Food, retail and service sectors are less likely to experience signifi...

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended on a softer note today as investors engaged in profit-taking following the recent rebound in the local market, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined by 0.65 per cent, or 11.19 points, to 1,700.84 from last Friday's close of 1,712.03. The benchmark index opened 1.56 points lower at 1,710.47 and moved between 1,699.94 and 1,712.32 throughout the trading session. Market breadth was negative, with decliners outnumbering gainers 560 to 481.  A total of 608 counters were unchanged, 1,649 untraded, and 14 suspended. Turnover slipped to 3.29 billion units worth RM2.40 billion from 3.45 billion units worth RM3.79 billion on Friday.

China’s steel market is not collapsing despite the property downturn. Instead, demand is stabilising at a lower level as manufacturing, exports and new energy sectors gradually replace construction-driven demand. This is not a demand collapse, it’s a structural shift from property to industrial and export-driven demand. What’s Really Happening The sharp drop in construction activity has clearly hurt steel demand: Property-related steel (like rebar) has fallen significantly Construction’s share of demand is shrinking But the broader market tells a different story: Total steel demand is only slightly below past peaks Manufacturing, shipbuilding and energy transition sectors are absorbing demand Exports are acting as a key buffer Instead of a sudden crash, the industry is entering a  long plateau . Why This Matters The market had expected a sharp collapse but reality is more gradual: Demand is declining slowly, not falling off a cliff China is shifting from construction-led growth to ...

Emerging Asian stocks are hitting new highs, led by Taiwan and South Korea, as AI-driven demand continues to dominate markets. However, currencies are weakening due to a stronger US dollar and uncertainty around the US-Iran peace deal. AI is now the strongest force in markets strong enough to offset geopolitics and rising rates. What’s Really Happening Equity markets and currencies are telling two very different stories: Stocks are rallying → driven by AI and semiconductor demand Currencies are weakening → pressured by USD strength and geopolitical uncertainty Taiwan and South Korea heavily exposed to semiconductors are leading gains because they sit at the center of the global AI supply chain. At the same time, unclear progress on the Iran deal and a stronger dollar are limiting capital flows into regional currencies. Why This Matters This divergence reveals something deeper: Equity investors are focused on  growth (AI) Currency markets are focused on  risk (USD + geopolitics...

Micron’s upcoming earnings are becoming a key market event, with AI-driven demand pushing profit growth close to 1,000%. Its performance is now so significant that it directly impacts overall S&P 500 earnings growth. This is no longer just a company story, Micron has become a major driver of market earnings. What’s Really Happening The surge in Micron’s profits is not coming from volume alone, it’s coming from pricing power. Tight memory supply is pushing prices sharply higher AI demand (especially high-bandwidth memory) is accelerating Much of the revenue growth is flowing straight to profit That’s why earnings are exploding at an unusually fast pace. More importantly, without Micron (and Nvidia), overall S&P 500 earnings growth would drop significantly showing how concentrated the market’s growth has become. Why This Matters This tells us something deeper about the current market: AI is not just a theme, it is dominating earnings growth A small group of companies is driving a...

The headline number isn’t the real story. The real story is policy strength. Key Insight A hawkish Fed normally strengthens the US dollar, but Singapore’s own policy tightening may be strong enough to keep the Singapore dollar appreciating anyway. What Investors Should Really Focus On The key lesson isn’t that SGD may reach 1.26. The key lesson is this: Singapore remains one of the few economies that still has room to tighten policy even in a highly uncertain global environment. Why This Matters For investors, this creates a very different positioning narrative: SGD remains one of Asia’s strongest currencies Singapore assets may continue attracting foreign capital Imported inflation should stay relatively contained SGD could outperform many regional currencies — even with a hawkish Fed Bigger Picture Most economies today are constrained: Growth risks are rising Inflation is easing unevenly Policy flexibility is limited Singapore stands out because it still has policy control and is act...

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s composite index ended the week higher, extending its gains for a seventh consecutive session, supported by strong late-session buying in selected blue-chip counters. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 0.64 of a point, or 0.03 per cent, to close at an intraday high of 1,712.03 from Thursday's close of 1,711.39.  The key index opened 7.35 points weaker at 1,704.04 and slipped to an intraday low of 1,699.18 in early trade.  Market breadth was negative, with losers leading gainers 525 to 491, while 547 counters were unchanged, 1,173 untraded and 34 suspended. Turnover slipped to 3.45 billion units worth RM3.79 billion from 4.50 billion units worth RM3.45 billion on Thursday.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index finished marginally higher, supported by strong buying interest in consumer-related counters, amid mixed performance across regional markets. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 1.40 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 1,711.39 from Tuesday's close of 1,709.99.  The key index opened 12.36 points firmer at 1,722.35 and moved between 1,711.31 and 1,722.63 throughout the session. Market breadth was negative, with losers leading gainers 678 to 493, while 549 counters were unchanged, 1,016 untraded and 34 suspended. Turnover increased to 4.50 billion units worth RM3.45 billion from 3.93 billion units worth RM3.45 billion on Tuesday.

Asian markets may look stable, but the underlying story has changed and investors need to pay attention. Asian stocks steady despite peace deal progress Oil falls to  ~US$75–78/barrel US-Iran ceasefire extended by 60 days Nikkei hits  record highs on AI momentum US stocks fall as  rate hike expectations rise Bond yields  moving higher again The oil story is getting better, but the interest-rate story is becoming more challenging. Oil Is No Longer the Main Risk With the peace deal in place: Supply disruption fears are easing Oil flows are expected to gradually resume Risk premium is being priced out   Lower oil = easing inflation pressure This is a positive shift for markets especially for energy-importing economies. But Rates Are Taking Over At the same time: The Fed is leaning  more hawkish Markets are pricing  possible rate hikes Bond yields are rising Higher rates are now the dominant driver This is why: US equities pulled back Growth stocks are und...

Malaysian energy stocks are hitting their peak, but the real shift is happening beneath the surface. Key Points Energy earnings likely peak in 2Q2026 Oil stabilising around  ~US$80/barrel Geopolitical risk premium is fading  after US-Iran deal Earnings to  gradually ease from July onwards Sector remains  overweight , but momentum is slowing The oil story is no longer about war risk, it’s about how quickly supply returns and whether demand is strong enough to keep prices near US$80. From War Rally to Normalisation The past few months were driven by: Supply disruptions Shipping constraints Risk premium from Middle East tensions Now, that narrative is shifting: Supply is  gradually returning Production is  coming back online Logistics are  normalising The energy sector is transitioning from a geopolitical-driven rally to a normalisation phase Why Oil Won’t Crash (Yet) Even with peace developments: Infrastructure repairs take time Tanker flows recover grad...

The real story isn’t that rates stayed at 3.75%, it’s that the Fed is no longer trying to guide the market every step of the way. The Federal Reserve’s latest decision to hold rates steady isn’t the real story. The bigger shift is how Kevin Warsh is changing the way the Fed operates and how markets must respond. Key Points Fed holds rates at 3.50%–3.75% No forward guidance  — a major policy shift Nearly half of policymakers signal possible rate hikes Inflation still elevated at  ~3.6% for 2026 Warsh launches  broad structural review of Fed policy Markets reacted with  higher yields and equity weakness The market is still treating Warsh like “Powell 2.0” that is likely a mistake. The Real Shift: From Powell to a Modern Greenspan This isn’t just a leadership change, it’s a philosophy shift. Warsh’s approach signals a return to a more classic central banking style: Less guidance  → fewer signals to markets More market discipline  → investors must interpret dat...

SpaceX is transitioning from hype-driven trading to institutional positioning and that’s where the real trend will be defined. SpaceX finally paused its explosive rally, but the bigger story is what this pullback reveals about positioning, liquidity, and what comes next. Key Points SpaceX fell ~5% , marking its first decline since IPO Stock had surged  nearly 50% in just 3 days  prior Still trading  ~42% above IPO price (US$135) Valuation slipped below Amazon, now  ~US$2.5 trillion Low free float (~4.2%)  is amplifying volatility Broader market weakness after  Fed rate outlook  also weighed This isn’t a breakdown and it’s the first real test after extreme post-IPO momentum. Why the Drop Happened The decline wasn’t driven by fundamentals, but by a mix of technical and macro factors: 1. Low Float = High Volatility Only a small portion of shares are tradable, which means: Prices can  spike quickly on demand But also  reverse sharply  on pro...

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index extended its rebound for a second consecutive day, closing more than one per cent higher,yh as investor sentiment remained buoyant amid improving regional market conditions and sustained buying interest in heavyweight counters.  At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 18.60 points, or 1.10 per cent, to 1,709.99 from yesterday's close of 1,691.39.  The key index opened 0.07 of a point weaker at 1,691.32 and moved between 1,685.57 and 1,711.20 throughout the session. Market breadth was positive, with gainers outpacing losers 600 to 552, while 566 counters were unchanged, 991 untraded and 25 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.93 billion units worth RM3.45 billion from 5.02 billion units worth RM3.91 billion on Monday.

Oil prices are dropping on hopes of a US-Iran deal, but a deeper shift may be underway beneath the surface. Key Points Brent crude fell below US$83  after recent sharp declines Weak China demand (-29% imports)  signals slowing consumption High US exports  continue to flood global supply Hormuz reopening will be gradual , not immediate Markets are shifting focus from  supply shock → demand weakness Oil is no longer just reacting to geopolitics — demand softness is starting to dominate the narrative. The Real Shift: Supply Shock → Demand Weakness It is the combination of: Weak Chinese oil demand (-29%) High US exports Gradual Hormuz reopening Together, these suggest the oil market is transitioning: From a  war-driven supply shock story Toward a  global demand weakness story This is a much more important shift for investors. Why This Matters Even if geopolitical tensions ease: Supply will  increase steadily Demand may  not keep up Inventories could...