Bursa Malaysia ends lower amid geopolitical, global growth concerns

At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.50 points to 1,725.89 compared with last Friday’s close of 1,727.39. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

First Published: Monday, 17 Aug 2026 6:11 PM MYT

Last Modified: Monday, 17 Aug 2026 6:20 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Bursa Malaysia ended lower on Monday as investor sentiment weakened amid renewed concerns over geopolitical tensions and global economic growth, an analyst said.

At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 1.50 points to 1,725.89 compared with last Friday’s close of 1,727.39.

The benchmark index opened 0.45 of a point lower at 1,726.94, and fluctuated between 1,722.16 and 1,731.45 throughout the day.

On the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 625 to 559, while 548 counters were unchanged, 1,113 untraded and 27 suspended.

Turnover slid to 3.45 billion units valued at RM2.74 billion from 3.50 billion units valued at RM2.59 billion on last Friday. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said the latest developments in West Asia have raised fresh doubts over the prospects of a broader peace agreement in the region.

He said the situation have kept investors cautious over their potential impact on energy prices and regional stability.

“On Bursa Malaysia, banking stocks led the decline and remained the main drag on the benchmark index.

“This reflected cautious positioning in index-heavy large-cap counters amid the more challenging global backdrop,” he said.

Among the heavyweights, Maybank shed two sen to RM10.58, Public Bank eased three sen to RM5.10, CIMB Group dropped eight sen to RM7.87, and IHH Healthcare slipped six sen to RM8.14, while Tenaga Nasional was flat at RM14.48.

On the most active list, JAKS Resources perked up three sen to 13.5 sen, both Zetrix AI and Key ASIC were flat at 72 sen and 7.5 sen, respectively, HE Group soared 13.5 sen to 88 sen, and NationGate Holdings inched down two sen to RM1.49.

Among top gainers, UMS Integration rose 42 sen to RM8.88, Nestle gained 30 sen to RM103.00, Hong Leong Bank added 24 sen to RM22.74, PPB Group climbed 20 sen to RM9.60, and UWC put on 18 sen to RM6.88.

As for the top losers, Malaysian Pacific Industries dipped 50 sen to RM47.00, Kuala Lumpur Kepong erased 24 sen to RM21.56, Petronas Gas fell 20 sen to RM17.22, Kelington Group lost 16 sen to RM8.54, and AMMB Holdings slipped 15 sen to RM7.20.

On the index board, the FBM ACE Index advanced 29.07 points to 5,323.85 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index climbed 17.27 points to 12,646.50.

The FBM Emas Index decreased 6.28 points to 12,809.16, the FBMT 100 Index lost 9.08 points to 12,617.18, and the FBM 70 Index declined 5.34 points to 18,287.85.

By sector, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.74 of a point to 187.97, the Financial Services Index shrank 86.31 points to 20,249.71, the Energy Index eased 1.84 points to 777.62, and the Plantation Index slipped 13.78 points to 9,313.62.

Main Market volume narrowed to 1.75 billion units valued at RM2.36 billion compared with 1.80 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion last Friday. 

Warrants turnover expanded to 957.50 million units worth RM1.31 billion versus 903.76 million units worth RM128.03 million previously.

The ACE Market volume slipped to 733.67 million units valued at RM254.52 million from 791.17 million units valued at RM237.96 million on Friday.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 176.51 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (380.46 million), construction (242.18 million), technology (371.95 million), financial services (80.48 million), property (140.03 million), plantation (35.84 million), real estate investment trusts (21.37 million), closed-end fund (575,300), energy (77.22 million), healthcare (55.06 million), telecommunications and media (60.38 million), transportation and logistics (60.50 million), utilities (52.44 million), and business trusts (110,000). — Bernama