Daily Market Report - 16 March 2026
  • Wall Street closed lower amid the escalating crude oil price.
  • Brent crude remains above the USD100/barrel at USD103 currently as an early end to the US/Iran war is still wishful thinking.
  • In addition, sentiment was also affected by the US GDP for 4Q2025 that has been adjusted to only 0.7% from the consensus estimate of 1.4% and well below the 4.4% growth in 3Q2025.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10-year yield edged higher at 4.283%.
  • It was another bloodbath for Asian markets as the middle east tension is showing no signs of abating pushing crude oil price higher, transforming traders into sellers.
  • The HSI was down by 250 points while the FBM KLCI dipped to below the 1,700 mark.
  • For today, we believe trading may be muted on the local bourse in view of the stubbornly high crude oil price, hence expect the index to hover within the 1,695-1,705 range today.
  • Planters may be in the limelight with the CPO price now trending at RM4,500/MT.
Daily Market Report - 13 March 2026
  • Wall Street tumbled as all 3 major indices closed sharply lower with the Brent crude stayed elevated at above the USD100/barrel after Iran’s new supreme leader said that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10-year yield inched higher at 4.261%.
  • As for Hong Kong equities, the HSI declined further as the Brent crude price crossed the USD100/barrel mark with no signs of the US/Iran tension abating anytime soon.
  • Back home, the FBM KLCI maintained its solid march to close above the 1,710 level after dipping below the 1,700 level in the morning session.
  • We suspect foreign funds may be nibbling on local shares thus expect this pattern to continue over the short term.
  • As such, we anticipate the index to hover within the 1,700-1,715 range today.
Daily Market Report - 12 March 2026
  • It was another mixed day on Wall Street as the US-Iran war continues to be the main focus with crude oil prices ended higher despite the International Energy Agency said it will release 400m barrels of oil from its reserves.
  • Meanwhile, February consumer price index came in within expectations at 2.4% amid a weakening labour market as the US 10-year yield inched higher at 4.228%.
  • Over in Hong Kong, the HSI dipped slightly following China’s move to curb the OpenClaw frenzy and warned of security and data risks tied to this AI tool.
  • On the home front, the FBM KLCI continues to chart upwards as foreign buying took centre stage on blue chips.
  • This is despite the volatility of crude oil price where the Brent crude trended between USD87/barrel to USD92/barrel.
  • For today, we expect the index to trend between the 1,700-1,715 range.
Daily Market Report - 11 March 2026
  • Wall Street closed mixed as all 3 major indices ended sharply below their day high following a wild session.
  • Traders remain focused on the heightening tension in the middle east and the pull back in crude oil prices.
  • Brent crude continues to decline, currently trending below USD88/barrel.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10-year yield edged higher at 4.156%.
  • Statement from Trump that the war with Iran would end soon sparked a decline in crude oil price.
  • As a result, the Brent crude dipped to below the USD90/barrel thus boosted a rally amongst Asian markets.
  • The HSI added 550 points to almost the 26,000 level whilst the FBM KLCI surged past the 1,700 mark as buyers returned with vengeance.
  • Notwithstanding the prevailing uncertainty, we believe the declining crude oil price may be the catalyst for regional markets to trend higher hence expect the FBM KLCI to hover within the 1,700-1,715 range today.
  • Meanwhile, the crude palm oil climbed to around the RM4,600/tonne thresholds and should see some buying interests on plantation stocks today.
Daily Market Report - 10 March 2026
  • Wall Street underwent a wild session as all 3 major indices ended positively following a sharp decline after the opening bell.
  • Sentiment turned positive following Trump’s statement that that the war with Iran will end soon with the Brent crude ending at USD99/barrel.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10-year yield dipped lower at 4.109%.
  • Over in Asia, it was a regional bloodbath as the investment climate was shattered by the surge in crude oil price.
  • In fact, the Brent crude was up from USD92/barrel over the weekend to above USD110/barrel.
  • As a result, the HSI dropped by almost 350 points while the FBM KLCI was not spared either, declining by 44 points.
  • As confidence has been snapped decisively, we reckon bargain hunting within the local bourse may be side-lined for now possibly if and when the index closes in on the 1,650 level.
  • Nonetheless, we believe the Plantation sector may be one of the beneficiaries from the high crude oil price as the CPO price has climbed to RM4,160/tonne mark.
  • For today, we expect the index to hover between the 1,665-1,680 range.