The FBM KLCI swung higher as returned buying interest was noticed in banking and plantation heavyweights in the anticipation of the reopening of borders and firmer FCPO price. With the Wall Street taking a pause after a recent strong rebound, we expect the profit taking activities may spill over to the local front, especially the technology stocks. We think investors may stay cautious in the anticipation of further sanction against Russia, which may lift commodity prices another round.

The FBM KLCI slide marginally but we expect the downside move could be well supported by the plantation and energy stocks. Also, following the overnight gains on Wall Street, we opine that the market sentiment will remain positive on the local front, as investors are brushing off concerns over the Fed’s monetary policies and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, while focusing on economic growth at least for the near term. Besides, the declining trend noticed in new Covid-19 cases may bode for the recovery theme.

Profit taking emerged on the FBM KLCI following the three straight sessions of rally on the back of mixed sentiment across the regional markets. However, we expect the key index to maintain its positive bias move over the near term with the focus turning to the upcoming reopening of travel borders and the recovery theme moving forward.

The FBM KLCI finished almost unchanged as investors stayed cautious prior to the Biden-Xi call to discuss about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. As Wall Street advanced on Friday after the talk ended without big surprises, we expect optimism to return on the regional bourses. Meanwhile, investors may focus on the increasing prospect of an early general election in Malaysia.

The FBM KLCI notched higher as positive sentiment spilt over from the regional market after authorities from China and the US signalled cooperation plan on USlisted Chinese stocks and fading concerns over the Russia-Ukraine conflicts lifted the overall sentiment. We expect investors may continue the bargain hunting mode given the extended gains on Wall Street. Nevertheless, traders should remain cautious given the geopolitical risk between Ukraine and Russia still persists.

The FBM KLCI soared in tandem with the regional peers after China promised to roll out support measures to bolster its stockmarkets following the recent market turmoil. Given the positive overnight performance on Wall Street, we expect our local market to extend its rebound with the banking sector taking the lead after the interest rate hike in the US. As we are getting closer to the reopening of borders, investors may focus on recovery theme and consumer stocks.

The FBM KLCI sank further on the back of unresolved conflict between Ukraine and Russia, coupled with the rising Covid-19 cases in China. However, we believe the strong rebound on Wall Street could spill over to the local front, but the normalising commodity prices may weigh on the commodity related stocks. Meanwhile, the increasing foreign inflows may push the stocks on Bursa.

With the rising Covid-19 cases in China as well as the unresolved geopolitical tension between Ukraine-Russia, we believe overall global sentiment may continue to stay volatile and downside risk may persist in the regional stock markets. Several upcoming catalysts for traders to monitor include (i) Russia-Ukraine ongoing negotiations, (ii) upcoming interest rate decision in the US, and (iii) the spike in Covid-19 cases in China, which may affect the manufacturing sector at least in the near term. Hence, investors may stay defensive at least for this week.