Bursa Malaysia ends little changed as bond yields, geopolitical tensions weigh on sentiment

Bursa Malaysia closed unchanged on Friday, as investors remained cautious due to rising global bond yields and geopolitical concerns, according to an analyst. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI index fell 0.23 points to 1,736.48 at the close, down from 1,736.71 on Thursday. Throughout the day, the index fluctuated between 1,733.13 and 1,738.30.

On the broader market, losses outnumbered gains by 637 to 578, with 571 counters remaining static, 1,086 shares untraded, and 47 suspended. Turnover fell to 3.91 billion units valued at RM3.32 billion, compared to 4.28 billion units valued at RM4.01 billion the previous day. Analyst Mohd Sedek Jantan noted that stocks with stronger ties to domestic demand remained attractive as investors looked to minimize exposure to external risks.

The upcoming Jackson Hole symposium, scheduled for Aug 27-29, 2026, featuring US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's keynote address on Aug 28, 2026, may influence global risk appetite, bond yields, and foreign fund flows. In terms of market leaders, Maybank rose two sen to RM10.60, while Public Bank and CIMB Group each dropped three sen to RM5.09 and RM7.95, respectively.

Tenaga Nasional fell 10 sen to RM14.40, and IHH Healthcare decreased by six sen to RM8.28. Notable gainers included PPB Group, Fraser & Neave Holdings, Sarawak Oil Palms, United Plantations, and YTL Power International, while Malaysian Pacific Industries, Nestle, Kelington Group, Telekom Malaysia, and Sunway Construction Group were among the top losers.

The FBM ACE Index increased by 5.03 points to 5,333.79, the FBM 70 Index declined by 23.07 points to 18,151.04, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index dropped 16.78 points to 12,641.79. The Plantation Index rose 112.22 points to 9,440.65, the Energy Index improved by 1.89 points to 777.03, while the Financial Services Index fell by 10.08 points to 20,265.40, and the Industrial Products and Services Index decreased by 0.33 points to 187.22.