Daily Market Report - 19 March 2026
  • Wall Street closed broadly lower as sentiment was stoked by the higher than expected producer price index at 0.7% vs the consensus of 0.3% whilst the Federal Reserve maintained their Fed rate.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10 year yield edged higher at 4.265%.
  • Over in Hong Kong, the HSI continued with its ascend to close above the 26,000 amid a steadying crude oil price despite the lingering tension in the middle east.
  • On the home front, the FBM KLCI maintained its impressive performance to end almost at the 1,730 mark, underpinned by foreign funds continuing accumulation of local equities.
  • Whether such buying will persist remains to be seen as we head towards a long weekend for Hari Raya celebration.
  • Nonetheless for today, we expect the index to hover within the 1,720-1,740 range.
  • If foreign funds continue to be net buyers, we may even see a pre-cursor for a potential Raya rally.
  • Meanwhile, the Brent crude is currently trending at the USD107/barrel level.
Daily Market Report - 18 March 2026
  • Wall Street closed slightly higher despite the volatile crude oil price staying above the USD100 mark, currently at USD103/barrel.
  • Trump’s plea for NATO assistance fell on deaf ears as the war may not end anytime soon.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10-year yield fell to 4.20%.
  • As for Hong Kong, the HSI was up marginally but off the day’s high whilst market undertone remains jittery amidst the steadying crude oil price.
  • On the home front, the FBM KLCI surprised us by surging past the 1,710 level underpinned by the return of foreign funds following some net outflows over the last few days.
  • Many still perceive Malaysia as a better insulated country within the region to withstand prevailing high crude oil price.
  • Thus, we anticipate the index to trend between the 1,700 1,720 range today.
Daily Market Report - 17 March 2026
  • Wall Street rebounded as most equities closed broadly higher.
  • Though sentiment was buoyed by cooling crude oil price where the Brent crude eased to just above the USD100/barrel, overall trading has been lacklustre.
  • Meanwhile, the US 10-year yield eased to 4.222%.
  • Over in Hong Kong, the HSI rebounded with the view to test the 26,000 level again.
  • Buying was spearheaded by tech stocks which are deemed undervalued as traders decided to look beyond the protracted war in the Middle east.
  • On the home front, the FBM KLCI ended lower but off the day’s low due to late selling activities.
  • We believe some foreign funds may be looking to lock in profits amid the prevailing uncertainty.
  • Thus for today, we expect the index to hover within the 1,695-1,705.
  • Meanwhile, crude oil has ease with the Brent crude now trending at USD101/barrel.
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.