Malaysia Morning Wrap | Economists Tip No Change to BNM Policy Rate After Q4 GDP Beats Estimates
Key Takeaways:
• Wall Street Closes on 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• KLCI Closes for FBM KLCI as Investors Await This Week’s BNM Gathering
• Economists Tip No Change to BNM Policy Rate After Q4 GDP Beats Estimates
• Stocks to watch: AirAsia X Bhd, IJM, etc.
🇺🇸 Wall Street Summary
Wall street closed on 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. day
🇲🇾Bursa Market Insight
$FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index (.KLSE.MY)$ 1,712.33 (-0.02%)
$FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index (.KLSE.MY)$ closed broadly flat in Monday’s session, weighed down by subdued investor sentiment. Market participants opted for a wait-and-see stance ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia’s key policy meeting scheduled for this week.
KLSE closed 0.41 points, or 0.02%, lower at 1,712.33. Having rebounded from an intraday low of 1,704.64, it hit an intraday high matching its closing price.
Market breadth turned negative, with losers outnumbering gainers by 779 to 359, while turnover came in at 3.08 billion shares worth RM2.74 billion.
Economists expect Bank Negara Malaysia to hold the overnight policy rate steady at its upcoming January meeting, after stronger-than-expected economic growth estimate for the fourth quarter of 2025.
CIMB Investment Bank Bhd said in a Monday research note that Malaysia’s Department of Statistics estimated Q42025 GDP to grow 5.7% year-on-year, resulting in a 4.9% full-year expansion for 2025. The upside surprise prompted the research house to upgrade Malaysia’s GDP growth forecast to 4.4%, up from its prior projection of 4.1%.
CIMB stated that Malaysia’s central bank could keep its policy stance unchanged through 2026, as economic growth is expected to stay moderate and inflation remains subdued. The institution argued for a stable overnight policy rate (OPR) outlook, with the assumption that demand-pull inflationary pressures will stay benign, supported by a stronger MYR and expanded productive capacities.
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🔔Stocks to Watch
$AAX (5238.MY)$ named Bo Lingam (Tharumalingam Kanagalingam) new group CEO with immediate effect, posted acquisition of AAB and AAAGL from Capital A Bhd to consolidate AirAsia operations.
$IJM (3336.MY)$ stated that MACC and Inland Revenue Board officers visited its office on Monday to obtain information for official procedures.
$FAVCO (7229.MY)$ has secured three new tower and offshore crane contracts totaling RM76.3 million. Crane deliveries are scheduled for end-2026 and the first quarter of 2027.
$OPENSYS (0040.MY)$ won RM22.05 million CRM supply order from fintech firm Reachful Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Tranche deliveries are set to be fully completed by Dec 31, 2026.
$RL (0219.MY)$ has secured a two-year CCS project services contract from Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Ltd via its 60%-owned subsidiary. The scope includes subsurface review and technical assurance; contract value remains undisclosed.
$ABMB (2488.MY)$ will pursue organic growth with no M&A plans, per group CEO Kellee Kam, who has no knowledge of related talks amid DBS Bank’s stake-acquisition reports. DBS’ bid for a 29.06% stake from Vertical Theme Sdn Bhd awaits Bank Negara Malaysia approval, though it has secured a 14.24% indirect stake from Temasek.
$MCEMENT (3794.MY)$ confirmed YTL Cement Bhd’s disposal of a 5.95% stake (82.41 million shares) via direct deal, as reported by The Edge; transaction price undisclosed, with a term sheet citing RM7.55 per share. YTL Cement’s stake drops to 59.25% post-sale, while Prudential plc holds its 8.43% second-largest shareholder position.
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Source: Dow Jones Newswires, Bursa Malaysia, The Edge
Disclaimer: Moomoo Technologies Inc. is providing this content for information and educational use only.
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Slay2dudes : ok
101628797kammalranM : its over
101628797kammalranM : tulang coming