Bursa opens higher as firm ringgit lifts sentiment
Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Tuesday, supported by positive sentiment from the stronger ringgit despite Wall Street’s downbeat performance. At 9.05am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was up ...
RSS · July 22, 2026 at 11:25 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 JULY 2026 —
Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Tuesday, supported by positive sentiment from the stronger ringgit despite Wall Street’s downbeat performance. At 9.05am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was up by 1.19 points, or 0.07%, to 1,613.97 from yesterday’s close of 1,612.78. This slight increase in the FBM KLCI indicates a cautious start to the trading day, with investors seemingly buoyed by the firming ringgit, which is currently hovering at 4.11 against the US dollar.
Market Impact
The broader market, however, painted a mixed picture, with 123 decliners outpacing 114 gainers, while 247 counters remained unchanged, 2,263 were untraded, and 11 were suspended. Turnover stood at 72.10 million shares worth RM55.73 million, reflecting a relatively modest level of trading activity. According to Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng, the downbeat performance on Wall Street was largely driven by traders opting to sell ahead of the United States Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, which is due tomorrow. The US 10-year Treasury yield also inched higher to 4.17 per cent, potentially influencing investor sentiment.
Thong noted that despite the firmer ringgit, investors are refraining from making significant commitments for now, adopting a wait-and-see approach ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. This cautious stance is reflected in the FBM KLCI’s modest gain, with Thong expecting the index to trend within the 1,610–1,620 range for the day. The US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is convening its policy meeting today and tomorrow, and the outcome of this meeting is likely to have a significant impact on global market sentiment.
Among heavyweights, Maybank added two sen to RM10.14, Public Bank improved one sen to RM4.38, while CIMB Group declined three sen to RM7.87. Tenaga Nasional eased two sen to RM12.68, and IHH Healthcare was unchanged at RM8.51. These movements suggest that investors are selectively buying into banking and financial services stocks, while being more cautious on other sectors. On the most active list, Main Market debutant Orkim rose two sen to 94 sen, Tanco gained one sen to RM1.19, and Zetrix AI added half-a-sen to 80.5 sen, indicating some interest in newer and smaller-cap stocks.
Top gainers included Petronas Gas, which surged 24 sen to RM17.26, FCW advanced 20 sen to RM2.00, and Malaysian Pacific Industries added 10 sen to RM32.20. Petronas Dagangan and Press Metal also rose six sen each to RM19.34 and RM6.85, respectively. These gains were partially offset by losses in other stocks, with Hong Leong Bank slipping 10 sen to RM21.20, Hong Leong Industries declining 10 sen to RM15.82, and Gamuda easing four sen to RM5.16. Alliance Bank and Genting Malaysia also lost three sen each to RM4.66 and RM2.12, respectively, reflecting the mixed sentiment in the market.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index gained 9.75 points to 11,935.22, the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 11.34 points to 11,796.21, and the FBMT 100 Index rose 9.48 points to 11,720.67. The FBM 70 Index added 17.11 points to 16,669.15, while the FBM ACE Index decreased 11.10 points to 4,772.44. Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index climbed 6.75 points to 18,940.01, the Industrial Products and Services Index increased 0.62 of-a-point to 166.43, and the Energy Index improved 0.28 of-a-point to 753.51. The Plantation Index also rose 19.97 points to 8,049.18, indicating a broadly positive tone in these sectors.
The performance of the Malaysian market is closely tied to regional and global trends, and the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision will likely have a significant impact on investor sentiment. As such, market participants will be closely watching the developments in the US, and adjusting their strategies accordingly. With the FBM KLCI expected to trend within a narrow range, investors will be looking for cues from the US and other major markets to inform their investment decisions. As the trading day progresses, it will be important to monitor the movements in the market, and adjust to any changes in sentiment or trends.
In conclusion, the Malaysian market has opened on a positive note, supported by the stronger ringgit and cautious investor sentiment. While the FBM KLCI has gained slightly, the broader market is mixed, and investors are adopting a wait-and-see approach ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. As the market continues to evolve, it will be important to monitor the developments in the US and other major markets, and adjust investment strategies accordingly. With the FBM KLCI expected to trend within a narrow range, investors will be looking for opportunities to buy into stocks that are undervalued, while being cautious on those that are overvalued. As the trading day comes to a close, it will be interesting to see how the market performs, and what the future holds for investors in Malaysia.
Related: Bursa Malaysia · Thong Pak Leng