Bursa Malaysia ekes higher on improved sentiment over oil prices - The Star
Bursa Malaysia ekes higher on improved sentiment over oil prices The Star
Source: The Star · August 4, 2026 at 6:27 AM · AI-assisted report
MALAYSIA, 4 AUGUST 2026 —
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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 - Bursa Malaysia edged higher on Monday, driven by improved sentiment over declining oil prices, as the benchmark FBM KLCI rose 3.2 points to 1,728.93 by 12:30 pm. The uptrend was supported by a rally in US stocks overnight, amid easing tensions in the Middle East, which led to a decrease in oil prices.
Market Impact
The FBM KLCI's gain was led by selected bank and plantation stocks, with Hong Leong Bank rising 18 sen to RM22.28, Ambank adding six sen to RM7.09, and RHB increasing eight sen to RM8.74. Plantation stocks also saw gains, with Kuala Lumpur Kepong up 26 sen to RM21.26 and SD Guthrie gaining seven sen to RM6.64.
Energy-related plays, such as MISC and PETRONAS Dagangan, also saw increases, with MISC rising seven sen to RM8.16 and PETRONAS Dagangan adding 24 sen to RM19.68.
The positive sentiment was reflected in the broader market, with 539 advancing issues compared to 399 decliners. Trading volume reached 1.51 billion shares, valued at RM1.29 billion. Sector-wise, technology shares jumped 1.02%, plantations rose 0.48%, property climbed 0.6%, financial services was up 0.35%, and energy shares added 0.13%. However, consumer services dipped 0.48% and REITs shed 0.65%.
The top traded shares included Nationgate, HHRG, and Zetrix AI, with Nationgate rising seven sen to RM1.30, HHRG remaining flat at 11.5 sen, and Zetrix AI gaining one sen to 73.5 sen.
In the regional market, Japan's benchmark Nikkei index fell 0.33% to 63,536, as investors grew nervous over further yen-buying efforts to prop up the currency. South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.76% to 6,209, struggling to stabilize after a historic rout last month. In contrast, China's Shanghai Composite index rose 0.16% to 3,815, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.49% to 26,882.
The regional market trends had a minimal impact on Bursa Malaysia, with the local market focusing on the decline in oil prices and the subsequent improvement in sentiment.
The improvement in sentiment on Bursa Malaysia was largely driven by the decline in oil prices, which had a positive impact on the energy sector. However, the impact was limited, with the energy sector only rising 0.13%. The financial services sector, which includes banking stocks, saw a more significant gain of 0.35%. The plantation sector, which is a significant contributor to Malaysia's economy, also saw a gain of 0.48%.
Details on the specific factors driving the gains in these sectors are not yet available.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Bursa Malaysia remains uncertain, with the market likely to be influenced by global trends and oil price movements. The decline in oil prices is expected to continue, which could lead to further gains in the energy sector. However, the impact of regional market trends and global economic developments on Bursa Malaysia remains to be seen.
As of now, details on the specific factors that will drive the market in the coming days are not yet available.
Related: Bursa Malaysia · Malaysia