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Finance

Bursa Malaysia ends higher on blue‑chip buying, regional gains

Bursa Malaysia’s KLCI closed at 1,736.71, up 5.39 points or 0.31 %, after a session of selective buying in blue‑chip names such as YTL Corp and YTL Power. The index’s intraday high was 1,739.13 before settling below that level as trading activity cooled.

Source: The Star · BernamaBiz · August 20, 2026 at 9:31 AM · AI-assisted report

Corroborated
Bursa Malaysia ends higher on blue‑chip buying, regional gains
Photo: YTL Corp Berhad / CC BY-SA 4.0

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 AUGUST 2026 —

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Bursa Malaysia Rises on Blue-Chip Demand as Regional Markets Rally

KUALA LUMPUR — Bursa Malaysia closed higher on Thursday, lifted by selective buying in large-cap stocks amid a broad-based advance across Asian equities, even as the broader market remained mixed.

The FBM KLCI, the benchmark index, gained 5.39 points, or 0.31%, to finish at 1,736.71, down slightly from an intraday peak of 1,739.13. The advance was driven by renewed interest in conglomerates YTL Corp and YTL Power, which contributed to the index’s modest uptick.

Advancers outnumbered decliners by a narrow margin, with 577 gainers against 610 losers, while 610 counters ended unchanged. Trading volume surged to 4.28 billion shares, valued at RM4.01 billion, reflecting market participation. Dealers described the turnover as encouraging, though they noted that the broader market remained fragmented, with decliners still slightly ahead.

Investor focus is shifting toward the ongoing corporate earnings season, with market participants anticipating selective buying as more companies release quarterly results. Analysts expect trading to remain cautious until clearer earnings guidance emerges.

Among the top gainers, Nestlé Malaysia led with a rise of 80 sen to RM104.80, followed by YTL Power, which added 28 sen to RM5.16. MN Holdings climbed 25 sen to RM3.64, PPB Group rose 22 sen to RM9.90, and YTL Corp edged up 21 sen to RM2.43.

On the downside, Malaysian Pacific Industries led decliners, falling 80 sen to RM45.30. Hong Leong Industries dropped 38 sen to RM17.58, PETRONAS Chemicals declined 32 sen to RM4.37, and Dutch Lady Milk Industries lost 26 sen to RM31.68.

Foreign investors were net sellers on Wednesday, offloading RM125 million in equities, while local institutions and retail investors were net buyers, with purchases of RM42 million and RM83 million, respectively.

Oil prices extended gains, with Brent crude rising US$2.02, or 2.2%, to US$93.64 per barrel — a three-week high — as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East fueled supply concerns. US West Texas Intermediate crude also climbed US$1.73, or 2.02%, to US$87.56 per barrel.

Regional equities broadly advanced, with the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index gaining 2.23%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.36% to 66,216.79, while South Korea’s Kospi surged 5.89% to 6,852.58. Taiwan’s TAIEX added 0.48% to 44,933.74, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index increased 0.8% to 25,698.49.

In China, the CSI 300 Index edged up 0.09% to 4,592.75, and the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.246% to 3,903.72.

Market watchers attributed the regional rally to improved risk sentiment, supported by expectations of monetary policy easing in major economies and stabilizing economic data from key trading partners. However, they cautioned that ongoing geopolitical risks and earnings uncertainty could limit further upside in the near term.

For Bursa Malaysia, the near-term outlook hinges on the trajectory of blue-chip stocks and the pace of corporate earnings releases. Dealers expect trading to remain selective, with investors likely to favor liquid counters with resilient earnings profiles.

As the market digests fresh corporate updates and external macroeconomic developments, analysts will be closely monitoring foreign fund flows and regional policy signals for directional cues.

Related: YTL Corp · Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Impact

6/10

Oil price rise to US$93.64 per barrel supports the energy sector and could lift the KLCI.

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Reporting based on The Star · BernamaBiz. Figures and claims are subject to revision as the story develops. DomainFork publishes editorial context, not investment advice — see our editorial standards.