Bursa Malaysia ends at intraday high lifted by utilities, petrochemical stocks - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 AUGUST 2026 —

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended at its intraday high on Wednesday, lifted by buying interest in utilities and petrochemical stocks amid elevated crude oil prices. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 10.15 points, or 0.59 per cent, to 1,741.61 compared with yesterday’s close of 1,731.46.

The performance of the FBM KLCI was broadly in line with the market’s recent trend, as investors continued to rotate into commodity-linked sectors, with elevated oil prices strengthening the earnings outlook for energy-related counters. According to IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan, the FBM KLCI closed higher, supported by gains in utilities and petrochemical stocks as crude oil prices approached US$90 per barrel.

This sectoral rotation has become increasingly evident over the past two months as geopolitical risks kept energy prices elevated, he noted.

On the broader market, gainers beat losers 661 to 512, while 600 counters were unchanged, 1,014 untraded and 13 suspended. Turnover increased to 3.70 billion units valued at RM3.27 billion from 3.43 billion units valued at RM2.94 billion on Tuesday. The Main Market volume improved to 1.94 billion units valued at RM2.90 billion compared to 1.61 billion units valued at RM2.59 billion on Tuesday.

The ACE Market volume expanded to 668.48 million units valued at RM227.01 million from 589.47 million units valued at RM184.37 million yesterday.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank added four sen to RM10.60, Public Bank was flat at RM5.19, CIMB Group gained three sen to RM7.92, Tenaga Nasional advanced 24 sen to RM14.58, while IHH Healthcare was unchanged at RM8.35.

On the most active list, Dagang Nexchange rose 3.5 sen to 53 sen, Nexgram Holdings perked up half a sen to six sen, Zetrix AI put on 2.5 sen to 74 sen, Top Glove Corporation edged up half a sen to 66.5 sen, and VS Industry eased half a sen to 24 sen.

The top gainers included United Plantations, which rose 40 sen to RM33.60, Nestle, which gained 30 sen to RM102.90, and UMS Integration, which advanced 28 sen to RM8.15.

The top losers, on the other hand, included Malaysian Pacific Industries, which erased 60 sen to RM47.50, Hong Leong Industries, which slipped 34 sen to RM17.64, and Ideal Capital, which sank 17 sen to RM3.50.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index increased 64.47 points to 12,918.70, the FBMT 100 Index garnered 62.00 points to 12,728.83, the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 66.70 points to 12,770.88, the FBM 70 Index climbed 37.89 points to 18,435.81, and the FBM ACE Index rose 34.21 points to 5,203.43.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index grew 25.82 points to 20,400.03, the Industrial Products and Services Index gained 2.38 points to 190.35, and the Energy Index put on 12.52 points to 785.74, while the Plantation Index declined 15.66 points to 9,468.34.

The performance of Bursa Malaysia was in contrast to most Asian equity markets, which ended lower as investors reassessed the impact of elevated energy costs on inflation, interest rates and corporate earnings. However, higher crude oil prices weighed on broader regional sentiment. According to Mohd Sedek Jantan, this sectoral rotation has become increasingly evident over the past two months as geopolitical risks kept energy prices elevated.

The impact of elevated crude oil prices on the Malaysian economy and stock market is likely to be closely watched in the coming days and weeks.

In terms of trading activity, consumer products and services counters accounted for 210.36 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (362.18 million), construction (116.34 million), technology (594.64 million), financial services (66.75 million), property (133.99 million), plantation (42.79 million), real estate investment trusts (15.38 million), closed-end fund (315,900), energy (109.89 million), healthcare (116.53 million), telecommunications and media (53.21 million), transportation and logistics (51.18 million), utilities (74.95 million), and business trusts (165,300).

Warrants turnover slid to 1.08 billion units worth RM140.95 million versus 1.23 billion units worth RM157.60 million previously.

Looking ahead, the performance of Bursa Malaysia is likely to be influenced by a range of factors, including crude oil prices, geopolitical developments, and economic data. As investors continue to rotate into commodity-linked sectors, the earnings outlook for energy-related counters is likely to remain a key driver of the market.

With the FBM KLCI ending at its intraday high on Wednesday, investors will be closely watching the market's next move, particularly in the context of elevated crude oil prices and their impact on the broader economy.

Details on the market's future direction are not yet available, but one thing is certain - the interplay between crude oil prices, geopolitical risks, and economic data will continue to shape the trajectory of Bursa Malaysia in the days and weeks to come.

Related: Bursa Malaysia · Mohd Sedek Jantan · Kuala Lumpur