KUALA LUMPUR: Local institutions extended their net buying streak on Bursa Malaysia for the fifth consecutive week, recording net inflows of RM233.2 million last week amid continued foreign selling across regional equity markets.
According to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB), retailers also reverted to net buying after the previous week’s outflows, posting net inflows of RM92.4 million during the week ended May 15.
On Bursa Malaysia, foreign institutions reverted to net selling after the previous week’s inflows, recording net outflows of RM325.5 million as investor sentiment was weighed down by persistent inflationary pressures, elevated oil prices and geopolitical uncertainties, the investment bank said.
MBSB IB said foreign institutions recorded net outflows on four of the five trading days during the week, with the largest outflow recorded on Friday (RM202.9 million), followed by Tuesday (RM64.9 million), Thursday (RM60.3 million) and Wednesday (RM19.4 million).
Monday was the only exception as it saw net inflows totalling RM22 million.
"Across the markets we monitor, foreigners reverted to net selling after the previous week of inflows, with net foreign outflows totalling US$17.12 billion,” the investment bank said in its weekly fund flow report today.
It said South Korea recorded the largest foreign outflow during the week, followed by Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, while Thailand and the Philippines were the only markets to record net inflows.
Meanwhile, MBSB IB said the technology sector recorded the highest net foreign inflows on Bursa Malaysia at RM135.5 million, followed by industrial products and services (RM75.9 million) and financial services (RM75.6 million).
"The average daily trading volume (ADTV) was mixed across investor classes, with retailers and foreign institutions rising 14.2 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively, while local institutions declined 3.7 per cent,” MBSB IB said.
The bank also said Malaysia’s economic growth remained resilient in the first quarter of 2026, sustaining growth above 5.0 per cent for the third consecutive quarter, supported by domestic spending, business activity and resilient exports.
"Malaysia’s labour market also remained strong in March 2026, with the unemployment rate unchanged at 2.9 per cent for the fifth consecutive month, remaining below the 3.0 per cent level,” it said.
The bank added that labour demand strengthened further in April 2026, with job vacancies rising by 15,000 to 122,000 from 107,000 in March, driven mainly by the services sector, particularly administrative and support services, as well as professional, scientific and technical activities. - Bernama
