FOREIGN investors reversed their position to net selling after a four-week buying streak that saw cumulative inflows of RM3.29 bil.
The May 19-23 trading week ended with a net foreign outflow of -RM392.3 mil which stretched the year-to-date (YTD) net foreign outflow to -RM9.8 bil, according to MIDF Research.
“Notably, the past four weeks marked the only period of foreign inflows for the year,” observed the research house in its weekly fund flow report.
“Foreign investors were net sellers on every trading day with outflows ranging from -RM900,000 to -RM207.7 mil. The largest outflow was recorded on Thursday (May 22) followed by Tuesday (May 20) with -RM80.5 mil.”
The three sectors that recorded the highest net foreign inflows were utilities (RM56.5 mil), construction (RM54.4 mil) and telecommunications and media (RM48.1 mil).
The top three sectors that recorded the highest net foreign outflows were financial services (-RM240.9 mil), consumer products & services (-RM139.1 mil) and industrial products & services (-RM86.2 mil).
On the contrary, local institutions ended their four-week selling streak with net inflows of RM222.9 mil to bring their YTD net buying to RM7.9 bil.
Likewise, local retailers also reversed their five-week outflow trend by posting a net inflow of RM169.4 mil.
The average daily trading volume (ADTV) saw a broad-based decline last week. Local institutions and local retailers saw a decrease of -36.8% and -28.1% respectively while foreign investors saw a decline of -29.1%.
In comparison with another four Southeast Asian markets tracked by MIDF Research, Indonesia recorded the highest inflow for a second successive week at US$130.7 mil.
Thailand followed closely behind with a net inflow of US$129.7 mil to reverse a one week selling streak.
However, the Philippines extended its selling streak to two weeks with a foreign withdrawal of -US$32.1 mil last week while Vietnam recorded a modest foreign withdrawal of -US$21.9 mil last week to end its two-week streak of foreign buying.
The top three stocks with the highest net money inflow from foreign investors last week were Tenaga Nasional Bhd (RM119.2 mil), Sunway Construction Group Bhd (RM 80.4 mil) and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (RM76.1 mil). – May 26, 2025
