fbm klci falls as broad selling hits market breadth, ringgit hits one‑month low

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

The FBM KLCI slipped 0.27% to 1,674.74 on Thursday, the market breadth turning negative as decliners outnumbered advancers 673 to 465, giving a ratio of 0.69.

Dealers said the move was triggered by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 25‑basis‑point rate hike, which revived worries about tighter global financing and pushed the stronger dollar lower regional equities.

The stronger dollar also dragged the ringgit down 0.54% to 4.0982 per U.S. dollar, its weakest level in a month and the fourth consecutive day of loss. Against the Singapore dollar the ringgit eased 0.35% to 3.2122, though it remained 0.8% stronger year‑to‑date.

Oil prices slipped modestly, with Brent crude down 1.45% to US$104.30 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate off 1.0% at US$101.41. MSCI’s Asia ex‑Japan index was lower 0.2%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.33% to 64,136.25. South Korea’s Kospi edged down 0.04% to 6,715.41, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.44% to 24,604.29 and China’s CSI300 slipped 0.45% to 4,460.16, with the Shanghai Composite easing 0.41% to 3,875.60.

Among the movers, AirAsia tumbled 21.09% to 50.5 sen, marking its steepest intraday drop since March 9 and its lowest level since December 2022. Capital A fell 16.36% to 23 sen after Reuters reported that the government had asked Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air whether they could absorb AirAsia’s domestic market share as part of scenario planning.

Pioneer Heat, debuting on the ACE Market, bucked the trend by closing 20% higher at 30 sen, up five sen on 80.18 million shares traded. Meanwhile, ViTrox gained 48 sen to RM9.58, Malaysian Pacific Industries added 40 sen to RM40.10, Carlsberg rose 36 sen to RM12.74 and Nestlé climbed 34 sen to RM90.52.

The next session will test whether the Fed‑driven risk aversion eases, as traders watch for any shift in global rate expectations and the ringgit’s response to continued dollar strength.

Related: AirAsia · Kuala Lumpur