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.