Opening Daily Highlight
Mixed
Headline-Driven Volatility Keeps Market Sentiment in Check
Fri, 27-Mar-2026 07:25 am
by Research Team • Apex Research

Malaysian Market Review: On Thursday, the FBMKLCI eased (-0.34%) as investors tracked developments in West Asia while remaining cautious amid increasingly conflicting signals from both the US and Iran over potential peace negotiations. Market breadth leaned negative with 492 advancers against 564 decliners. Sector-wise, Energy (+2.66%), Industrial Products (+1.44%), and Utilities (+1.24%) were the main leaders. The main laggards were Construction (-1.74%), Finance (-0.68%), and Telco (-0.56%).

 

Global Markets. U.S. stocks fell on Thursday, with the Dow (-1.01%), S&P 500 (-1.74%), and Nasdaq (-2.38%) all closing lower, weighed down by higher oil prices, as investors reacted to the latest developments in the Middle East. Global markets have reacted to contradictory statements from Washington and Tehran over the past 48 hours regarding the status of peace talks. The U.S. has indicated that talks on a proposed peace plan are ongoing, while Iran has denied any direct engagement with Washington. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed lower (-1.2%) with all major bourses and most sectors in the red. Asian markets have also reacted similarly with the Nikkei 225 (-0.27%), Hang Seng (-1.89%), and CSI 300 falling (-1%) (CNBC). 

 

Market Outlook. The weaker close across U.S., European, and Asian markets suggests that sentiment remains volatile, as investors turned more cautious amid renewed uncertainty over developments in the Middle East and conflicting signals from the U.S. and Iran on peace negotiations. For the Malaysian market, sentiment is likely to remain fragile and headline-driven in the near term, with risk appetite capped despite pockets of resilience in selected sectors.

 

Sector focus. We favour the export-oriented sectors amid current geopolitical tensions and currency volatility. Higher oil prices could support the energy and plantation sectors, while defensive yield plays such as utilities remain attractive as investors seek stability in a volatile environment.

 

FBMKLCI Technical Outlook

Technical Commentary: The FBM KLCI continues to trade above its prevailing uptrend line. This suggests that the broader bullish structure remains intact for now. As long as the index holds above the 1,695–1,700 support zone, the prevailing uptrend is likely to remain intact. A decisive break below this level would weaken the technical structure and may signal a deeper corrective phase.

 

Company News (source: various)

Sunway Bhd is standing firm on its RM3.15 per share takeover offer for IJM Corp Bhd, arguing the proposal is fair and backed by independent analyst valuations as well as Sunway's own strong financial track record. (The Edge)

 

Sunway Healthcare Holdings Bhd founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah remains bullish on the newly listed entity's ability to deliver on its targets, underpinned by its "build-from-scarch" organic expansion model. (The Edge)

 

VS Industry Bhd slipped into the red for the second quarter ended Jan 31, 2026 (2QFY2026), with a net loss of RM29.59 million, compared to a net profit of RM15.38 million in the year before. (The Edge)

 

Auto parts supplier MCE Holdings Bhd's net profit more than halved to RM4.68 million in the second quarter ended Jan 31, 2026 (2QFY2026), from RM9.57 million a year earlier. (The Edge)

 

Frozen seafood producer PT Resources Bhd posted a more than five-fold increase in net profit to RM4.5 million for its third financial quarter ended Jan 31, 2026 (3QFY2026), from RM887,000 a year ago, driven by better cost management and improved sales mix. (The Edge)

 

Construction group Binastra Corp Bhd's net profit climbed by nearly 70% to RM42.4 million for the fourth quarter ended Jan 31, 2026 (4QFY2026), from RM25.1 million a year ago, amid a rise in the number of ongoing projects. (The Edge)

 

ICT Zone Asia Bhd has clinched a purchase order worth RM24.53 million to supply laptops and related peripheral devices to an undisclosed client. (The Edge)

Sentiment: Negative
Read more details in:

Disclaimer

The report is for internal and private circulation only and shall not be reproduced either in part or otherwise without the prior written consent of Apex Securities Berhad. The opinions and information contained herein are based on available data believed to be reliable. It is not to be construed as an offer, invitation or solicitation to buy or sell the securities covered by this report.

Opinions, estimates and projections in this report constitute the current judgment of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Apex Securities Berhad and are subject to change without notice. Apex Securities Berhad has no obligation to update, modify or amend this report or to otherwise notify a reader thereof in the event that any matter stated herein, or any opinion, projection, forecast or estimate set forth herein, changes or subsequently becomes inaccurate.

Apex Securities Berhad does not warrant the accuracy of anything stated herein in any manner whatsoever and no reliance upon such statement by anyone shall give rise to any claim whatsoever against Apex Securities Berhad. Apex Securities Berhad may from time to time have an interest in the company mentioned by this report. This report may not be reproduced, copied or circulated without the prior written approval of Apex Securities Berhad.

Market Mover
Settlement Rates
Currency Buy Rates (RM) Sell Rates (RM)
USD 3.977357 4.009393
EUR 4.610753 4.620291
CNY 0.577257 0.577864
HKD 0.508276 0.512397
SGD 3.098398 3.123641