Kuala lumpur: The industrial products and services sector experienced net foreign inflows amounting to RM128.3 million last week, surpassing the technology and plantation sectors, which recorded inflows of RM114.2 million and RM53.3 million, respectively. According to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB), the report covers the week ending May 1, 2026, and outlines key fund flow trends within the market.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, local institutions continued their pattern of net buying for the third consecutive week, achieving modest net inflows of RM2.2 million. Retail investors, who had been net sellers for two consecutive weeks, shifted to net inflows totaling RM82.8 million. However, foreign institutions maintained their trend of net selling, with a total outflow of -RM85.1 million.
Foreign institutions were net sellers on three out of four trading days during the week. The largest outflow was recorded on Thursday at -RM120.9 million, followed by Monday with -RM41.9 million, and Tuesday at -RM32.7 million. The only positive inflow for foreign institutions was observed on Wednesday, with a significant RM110.4 million, while the market remained closed on Friday due to Labour Day celebrations.
The report further highlighted that the utilities, property, and healthcare sectors experienced the most significant net foreign outflows, with RM116.9 million, RM103.1 million, and RM74.9 million, respectively. The average daily trading volume (ADTV) varied across participant categories, with a one percent decline for retailers, a 13.9 percent rise for local institutions, and a 6.8 percent increase for foreign institutions.
Reviewing the month of April, foreign investors ended their five-month streak of net selling, emerging as net buyers across eight Asian markets tracked, contributing to net foreign inflows of US$851.5 million. Taiwan led with US$8.42 billion, followed by South Korea with US$593.4 million, and Malaysia with US$111.8 million.
In Malaysia, foreign institutions reversed their previous month's outflow trend by recording RM449.0 million in net inflows. The financial services, plantation, and industrial products and services sectors were the only three to see net foreign inflows in April, with RM683.6 million, RM518.9 million, and RM450.9 million, respectively. Conversely, the transport and logistics, consumer products and services, and telecommunication and media sectors suffered the largest net foreign outflows, at -RM354.4 million, -RM331.5 million, and -RM206.5 million, respectively.