by Theleaders | May 18, 2026 1:38 pm
KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Bursa Malaysia opened higher today following Malaysia’s stronger-than-expected first quarter of 2026 (1Q 2026) gross domestic product (GDP) which expanded by 5.4 per cent, surpassing the advance estimate of 5.3 per cent.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) last Friday said the stronger-than-expected 1Q 2026 GDP is driven by robust domestic demand, investment activities and exports.
At 9.10am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI rose 1.37 points to 1,741.59 from last Friday’s close of 1,740.22. The benchmark index opened 1.72 points higher at 1,741.94.
However, on the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 380 to 184, while 300 counters were unchanged, 1,850 untraded and 32 suspended.
Turnover stood at 308.91 million shares valued at RM177.18 million.
IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said Malaysia’s stronger-than-expected 1Q 2026 GDP performance reinforces confidence in the resilience of the domestic economy which was supported by firm private consumption, stable labour market conditions and continued household spending momentum.
“The latest growth figures suggest that domestic demand remains a critical stabilising anchor for the economy despite persistent external uncertainties.
“However, the stronger GDP print does not fully insulate Malaysia from rising global risks, particularly geopolitical tensions in major economies and the recent rebound in global crude oil prices, both of which could eventually influence inflation expectations, fiscal dynamics and external trade sentiment,” he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng expects the index to hover within the 1,735-1,750 range today.
Among heavyweight stocks, Maybank added two sen to RM11.12, Tenaga Nasional gained 10 sen to RM14.64, IHH Healthcare rose three sen to RM9.07, while Public Bank and CIMB eased three sen each to RM4.88 and RM7.85.
Among active stocks, GIIB was up one sen to 30 sen, Top Glove gained 2.5 sen to 80.5 sen, while AirAsia X, Gold Li and Zetrix AI slipped 2.0 sen each to RM1.13, 11 sen and 82.5 sen.
Top gainers included Nestle, which surged RM1.20 to RM101.40, Tong Herr Resources advanced 23 sen to RM1.85, Petronas Dagangan perked 22 sen to RM20.52, while Petronas Chemicals and UMS Integration added 21 sen each to RM5.80 and RM8.84.
Among top losers, Malaysia Pacific Industries gave up 90 sen to RM43.20, Hong Leong Financial Group slid 32 sen to RM18.52, Pentamaster was down 17 sen to RM4.23, Kelington and Unisem lost 16 sen each to RM6.80 and RM3.84.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index edged down 18.79 points to 12,876.08, the FBM Top 100 Index shed 16.70 points to 12,716.61, the FBM Emas Shariah Index rose 3.01 points to 12,825.86, the FBM Mid 70 Index declined 138.69 points to 18,366.32 and the FBM ACE Index eased 36.09 points to 4,706.65.
By sector, the Financial Services Index fell 52.25 points to 20,202.06, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.61 of-a-point to 200.56, the Energy Index improved 2.79 points to 811.68 and the Plantation Index went up 29.19 points to 8,614.62.
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