Market Pulse - Defending the 1,600 level

The FBM KLCI shed gains in tandem with regional peers after the US Federal Reserve meeting minutes put investors’ focus on the possibility of more aggressive US interest rate hikes. Still, we expect the local bourse to trade in a consolidation mode as investors mulled over the US hawkish stance as well as the Russia sanction. Nevertheless, we believe the downside risk may be cushioned by the recovery in business activities.