Apex officially launches Discretionary Trading (“DT”)! Click here for more info!
Market Highlights
Market Outlook
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:37 am
Market Outlook - GE16: A Pre-Poll Market Boost?

• Early GE16 Possible. Channel checks suggest Malaysia could hold its next general electionas early as 2H2026, earlier than the constitutional deadline in 2028.
• Historically, the FBM KLCI tends to trend modestly higher 3–6 months ahead of elections,although volatility typically increases closer to polling day.
• Strengthening ringgit, encouraging foreign investment inflows, resilient consumption, and the AI-driven E&E upcycle could provide additional support to market sentiment.
• Sector Beneficiaries. Historically, financial and consumer stocks have been the most consistent outperformers in the run-up to Malaysian general elections.
• Our preferred picks are AQUAWALK (BUY, TP: RM0.37) and CCK (BUY, TP: RM1.62).

Economic Update
Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:50 am
Malaysia Labour Market - Steady outlook but modest headwinds ahead

• The labour market remained stable in January, with the unemployment rate holding at an
11-year low of 2.9%, in line with firm domestic activity.
• Stronger tourism under Visit Malaysia 2026, ongoing policy support and structural shifts
in investment should support hiring momentum and quality job creation.
• Flattish employment growth in January, together with reports of manufacturers reducing
staffing levels, warrants close monitoring in our view.
• While geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pose downside risks to employment in
export-oriented sectors, we expect the impact to remain manageable at this juncture.
• We expect the unemployment rate to average 3.0% in 2026 (2025: 3.0%).

Economic Update
Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:57 am
Malaysia Industrial Production - Steady Outlook even as External Risks rise

• The Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose +5.9% YoY in January (Dec: +4.8%), beating
market expectations of +5.0%, driven mainly by firmer manufacturing output.
• The export-oriented cluster recorded another strong month, supported by E&E, while the
domestic-oriented cluster accelerated to +5.4% YoY (Dec: +4.9%).
• The AI-driven semiconductor upcycle, together with resilient domestic consumption,
should continue to support Malaysia’s manufacturing sector.
• While lingering uncertainty surrounding US tariff policy and the US-Iran conflict has raised
external risks, we expect the impact on Malaysia’s economy to remain limited and
manageable at this juncture.
• We keep our 2026 manufacturing growth forecast at +4.5% YoY (2025: +4.5%) and GDP
forecast at +4.7% (2025: +5.2%) for now.

Technical Calls
Stock Research
Derivatives Market Performance
Sector Reports
Market Mover
Settlement Rates
Currency Buy Rates (RM) Sell Rates (RM)
USD 3.913032 3.940617
EUR 4.536256 4.541107
CNY 0.571200 0.571806
HKD 0.499861 0.503393
SGD 3.069221 3.090967
Latest Quarter Report
Stock FYE Quarter
31 May 2025 3 Qtr, Feb 2025
31 Dec 2024 4 Qtr, Dec 2024
31 Dec 2024 4 Qtr, Dec 2024
28 Feb 2025 4 Qtr, Feb 2025
31 Jan 2025 4 Qtr, Jan 2025
31 Oct 2025 1 Qtr, Jan 2025
31 Jul 2025 2 Qtr, Jan 2025
30 Apr 2025 3 Qtr, Jan 2025
31 Jul 2025 Other, Jan 2025
31 Jan 2025 4 Qtr, Jan 2025