Bursa Malaysia Set To Be On Cautious Mode Next Week Amid Festive Period

By Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia is expected to trade in cautious mode next week ahead of Chinese New Year and the first US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of 2025, scheduled for Jan 28-29.

UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said demand is expected to be muted next week amid the Chinese New Year celebration.

“Next week, the FBM KLCI is expected to take a cautious stance as investors await the FOMC meeting outcome. The shortened trading week, due to the Chinese New Year holiday, will likely dampen market activity, with muted volumes and limited movements anticipated,” he told Bernama.

He added that as China enters the Lunar New Year holiday period, most key data releases are scheduled for Monday including the manufacturing PMI and medium-term lending facility (MLF) figures. For the US, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures data to be released on Jan 31 will be closely watched.

Mohd Sedek reckons that while President Trump’s policies are largely supportive of global sentiment, Malaysia’s economy is expected to benefit from robust domestic fundamentals, continued demand from China, and improving global liquidity conditions. 

On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the FBM KLCI gained 7.01 points to 1,573.73 from 1,566.72 a week earlier.

The FBM Emas Index climbed 26.76 points to 12,035.59, the FBMT 100 Index rose 29.55 points to 11,725.52 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index added 49.22 points to 11,914.88.

The FBM ACE Index gained 34.27 points to 5,210.53 while the FBM 70 Index lost 39.53 points to 17,906.35.

By sector, the Financial Services Index strengthened 87.62 points to 18,896.49, the Plantation Index added 83.01 points to 7,419.45 and the Industrial Products and Services Index bagged 2.04 points to 168.69.

However, the Energy Index slipped 2.49 points to 838.06 while the Healthcare Index slid 8.81 points to 2,183.17 and the Technology Index edged down 0.64 of a point to 60.10.

Turnover decreased to 15.58 billion units worth RM13.10 billion this week from 16.31 billion units worth RM14.50 billion in the preceding week.  

The Main Market volume fell to 6.76 billion units valued at RM10.97 billion compared with 8.41 billion units valued at RM13.19 billion previously.  

Warrant turnover dropped to 5.18 billion units worth RM531.09 million from 5.24 billion units worth RM497.54 million in the week before.  

The ACE Market volume soared to 3.62 billion units valued at RM1.59 billion from 2.55 billion units valued at RM811.14 million previously.

-- BERNAMA