The Malaysia stock market has closed higher now in four straight trading days, collecting more than 20 points or 1.2 percent en route to another fresh record closing high. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index finished just above the 1,645-point plateau, and now traders are looking for continued support when the market kicks off trade on Thursday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic following solid economic data from the United States. The Commerce Department reported a bigger than expected rebound in housing starts in the month of June. In addition, the Fed's Beige Book report said overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July. The European and U.S. markets finished higher, and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead.
The KLCI finished modestly higher again on Wednesday as gains from the financial shares and industrial issues were offset by weakness from the plantation stocks.
For the day, the index added 5.85 points or 0.36 percent to finish at 1,645 after trading between 1,640.39 and 1,645.39. Volume was 1.13 billion shares worth 1.46 billion ringgit. There were 362 gainers and 358 decliners, with 388 stocks finishing unchanged.
Among the actives, Maybank and CIMB Group finished higher, while Sime Darby and Metronic Global were unchanged and Petronas Chemicals, AT Systematization, Cybertowers and Naim Indah all ended lower.
The lead from Wall Street is positive as stocks moved higher on Wednesday, adding to the gains posted in the previous session. The markets benefited from considerable strength that emerged among technology stocks - which moved sharply higher despite disappointing guidance from semiconductor giant Intel (INTC).
Intel reported better than expected Q2 earnings after the close of trading on Tuesday, but the company also reported weaker than expected revenues and lowered its full year revenue growth outlook. Tech stocks also benefited from bargain hunting following recent weakness in the sector, with the gain by Intel extending a recovery from the six-month closing low it set last Thursday.
In addition, the Commerce Department reported that housing starts jumped 6.9 percent to an annual rate of 760,000 in June from the revised May estimate of 711,000. Economists had expected starts to climb to 745,000 from the 708,000 originally reported for the previous month. On the other hand, building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, fell by 3.7 percent to an annual rate of 755,000 in June from the revised May rate of 784,000.
In other economic news, the Fed's Beige Book report said overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July. The report also said employment levels grew at a tepid pace since the last report and noted that price inflation was modest across most areas of the country. Looking ahead, the Fed said contacts remained cautiously optimistic about future business conditions.
Traders also kept an eye on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's second day of testimony on Capitol Hill, with the Fed Chief facing questions from the House Financial Services Committee. Bernanke's prepared remarks were unchanged from those he delivered to the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. He reiterated that the Fed is prepared to take further action if necessary and continued to urge Congress to address the upcoming fiscal cliff.
The major averages hovered firmly in positive territory in afternoon trading, holding on to strong gains. The Dow rose 103.16 points or 0.8 percent to finish 12,908.70, while the NASDAQ jumped 32.56 points or 1.1 percent to end at 2,942.60 and the S&P 500 climbed 9.11 points or 0.7 percent to 1,372.78.
In economic news, Malaysia's consumer price inflation slowed to 1.6 percent in June from 1.7 percent in May, the Department of Statistics said on Wednesday. Economists expected had expected no change.
On a monthly basis, the consumer price index edged up 0.1 percent in May. In the six months ended June, consumer prices advanced 2 percent from the corresponding period a year earlier, the agency said.
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Market Analysis
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.