Kuala Lumpur: Bursa Malaysia closed with a 0.45% increase on Wednesday as market participants responded positively to the announcement of a United States-China trade framework agreement. This framework includes key provisions concerning technology trade, influencing investor sentiment towards a cautiously hopeful outlook.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 6.89 points, reaching 1,523.84 at the end of the trading day. The index had started the day at 1,520.86, the day's lowest point, and climbed to a peak of 1,530.85 in the early session.
The broader market saw a favorable trend with 545 gainers compared to 375 decliners. A total of 528 counters remained unchanged, while 921 were not traded, and 11 were suspended. The turnover experienced a significant rise, reaching 3.27 billion units valued at RM2.59 billion, compared to the previous day's 2.72 billion units worth RM2.09 billion.
UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd's head of investment research, Mohd Sedek Jantan, remarked on the development in US-China trade negotiations, considering it a constructive step towards resolving tensions. However, he indicated that the agreement fell short of a substantial breakthrough. Domestically, the market received additional support from positive macroeconomic data. The Department of Statistics Malaysia reported a 4.8% year-on-year increase in the sales value of the manufacturing sector in April 2025, reaching RM160.6 billion.
Mohd Sedek noted that domestic-oriented industries expanded by 3.6% in April, up from 1.8% in March. He emphasized the importance of these indicators in signaling the strength of Malaysia's economic and export sectors despite global uncertainties. Investor sentiment was further boosted by improved trading activity, as market volume surpassed the three billion shares mark after a period of lower activity.
The gainers were led by financials, utilities, and data centre-related counters, reflecting confidence in sectors driven by domestic demand and long-term trends. Among the heavyweights, Maybank increased by four sen to RM9.70, Tenaga Nasional remained flat at RM14.24, while Public Bank and CIMB both rose five sen to RM4.31 and RM6.90, respectively. IHH, however, saw a slight decline of three sen to RM6.86.
Consumer products and services counters led gains in the broader market, with F and N increasing by 64 sen to RM28.44, Nestle rising by 56 sen to RM75.56, and Allianz climbing 26 sen to RM19.38. Active stocks included MYEG, which rose by two sen to 97 sen, and YTL Corporation, which improved by 16 sen to RM2.18.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index increased by 43.61 points to 11,437.73, and the FBMT 100 Index rose by 43.99 points to 11,203.54. The FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced by 23.45 points to 11,392.67. Sector-wise, the Energy Index inched up to 723.77, and the Financial Services Index gained 84.85 points to 17,779.15.
The Main Market volume rose to 1.41 billion units valued at RM2.32 billion, while warrants turnover expanded significantly. The ACE Market volume declined slightly but remained active. Consumer products and services accounted for a significant portion of shares traded on the Main Market, followed by industrial products and services, and construction sectors.