Malaysia was among three Asian markets to record net foreign inflows last week, posting RM577.1 million and reversing the previous week’s outflow.
MBSB Investment Bank Bhd’s (MBSB IB) fund flow report for the week ended Oct 3 showed foreign investors were net buyers on three of five trading days, with last Thursday contributing the largest single-day net inflow of RM503.9 million, the highest since May 25.
This was followed by last Wednesday (RM154.0 million) and Monday (RM52.8 million), while the largest outflows occurred last Friday (RM80.5 million) and Tuesday (RM53.0 million).
Sector-wise, technology, healthcare, and construction led inflows, each recording RM339.7 million, RM313.6 million and RM313.6 million respectively.
However, local institutions returned to net selling after the previous week’s inflow, posting a net outflow of RM304.7 million, while local retailers extended a four-week net selling streak with RM272.4 million.
MBSB IB noted that average daily trading volumes rose broadly last week, with local retailers and institutions up 10.1% and 5.6% respectively, while foreign investors increased 12.2%.
Across Asia, only South Korea and Taiwan saw net foreign buying, while most regional peers recorded outflows, with India posting the largest.
South Korea returned to net buying after a week of outflows, registering the region’s largest net inflow at US$3.18 billion (RM13.40 billion), as exports grew at their fastest pace in 14 months, exceeding expectations amid a global artificial intelligence-driven surge in chip demand. Exports reached US$65.9 billion in September, up 12.7% year-on-year and a record monthly value, MBSB IB said.
Taiwan also turned net buyers, with US$2.21 billion in foreign inflows, despite slowing factory activity, weaker Chinese demand, and pressure from anticipated US tariffs under President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, India extended a two-week net outflow streak, posting the region’s largest net outflow at US$1.15 billion, after the Reserve Bank of India kept its policy rate unchanged last Wednesday.
Source: theedgemalaysia