Bursa Malaysia ends lower, selected sectors gains after 6% 2Q GDP growth - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 AUGUST 2026 —

Malaysia’s Stock Market Ends Lower Despite Strong 2Q GDP Growth, Select Sectors Gain

At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slid 7.32 points to 1,727.39, compared with Thursday’s close of 1,734.71. The benchmark index opened marginally higher at 1,734.72 but fluctuated between 1,726.77 and 1,734.72 throughout the trading session.

On the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers 619 to 538, while 554 counters remained unchanged. A total of 1,117 stocks were untraded, and 29 were suspended. Turnover eased to 3.50 billion units valued at RM2.59 billion, down from 3.51 billion units worth RM3.05 billion on Thursday.

Market Reaction Reflects Forward-Looking Sentiment Despite Strong GDP Data

IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Janten said the FBM KLCI’s decline, despite Malaysia’s stronger-than-expected 6.0% GDP growth in 2Q 2026, underscored the market’s forward-looking nature.

“Much of the positive growth narrative appears to have been priced in, while stronger domestic activity could reduce expectations for further monetary easing,” he said.

“Investors are therefore shifting their focus from headline GDP growth towards the sustainability of second-half 2026 growth and, more importantly, its conversion into corporate earnings,” he added.

Heavyweights Mixed as Select Sectors Show Resilience Among blue-chip stocks, Maybank and CIMB Group were flat at RM10.60 and RM7.95, respectively. Public Bank fell three sen to RM5.13, Tenaga Nasional dipped two sen to RM14.48, and IHH Healthcare lost seven sen to RM8.20.

On the most active list, JAKS Resources and Tanco Holdings edged up 1.5 sen each to 10.5 sen and 26 sen, respectively. Key ASIC fell half a sen to 7.5 sen, HHRG dropped two sen to 13.5 sen, and Kronologi Asia gained two sen to 12 sen.

Top Gainers and Losers Highlight Sectoral Shifts Among the top gainers, Hong Leong Industries climbed 32 sen to RM18, Ranhill Utilities surged 30 sen to RM2.66, Critical Holdings added 19 sen to RM2.11, Ideal Capital rose 17 sen to RM3.68, and Hong Leong Bank firmed 16 sen to RM22.50.

Conversely, the top losers included Nestle, which dropped 80 sen to RM102.70, United Plantations, which slipped 42 sen to RM32.88, Malaysian Pacific Industries, which gave up 34 sen to RM47.50, Press Metal Aluminium, which slid 28 sen to RM7.70, and Dutch Lady Milk Industries, which shed 20 sen to RM31.50.

Suspension of Hextar Global Pending Announcement Trading in Hextar Global Bhd shares will resume at 9 am on Monday, Aug 17, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect at 2.30 pm today and continued for the rest of the trading day, according to a Bursa Malaysia filing.

Index Performance Reflects Sectoral Divergence On the index board, the FBM ACE Index advanced 50.13 points to 5,294.78, while the FBM Emas Index decreased 43.10 points to 12,815.44. The FBMT 100 Index sank 46.44 points to 12,626.26.

The FBM Emas Shariah Index dipped 65.75 points to 12,629.23, and the FBM 70 Index declined 37.02 points to 18,293.19.

By sector, the Financial Services Index dropped 20.99 points to 20,336.03, the Energy Index eased 3.86 points to 779.46, the Plantation Index slid 46.26 points to 9,327.40, and the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 2.25 points to 187.23.

Volume and Sectoral Breakdown Show Mixed Sentiment Main Market volume appreciated to 1.80 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion, compared with 1.77 billion units worth RM2.64 billion on Thursday. Warrants turnover narrowed to 903.76 million units worth RM128.03 million, down from 956.43 million units worth RM137.35 million previously.

The ACE Market volume expanded to 791.17 million units valued at RM237.96 million, from 784.66 million units worth RM267.74 million the day before.

Sectoral trading volumes on the Main Market were distributed as follows: consumer products and services (242.12 million shares), industrial products and services (332.99 million), construction (228.77 million), technology (425.83 million), financial services (56.50 million), property (192.42 million), plantation (25.28 million), real estate investment trusts (12.34 million), closed-end fund (17,000), energy (67.40 million), healthcare (51.11 million), telecommunications and media (42.07 million), transportation and logistics (68.15 million), utilities (63.48 million), and business trusts (1.31 million).

Related: Bursa Malaysia · Mohd Sedek Janten · Kuala Lumpur