FOREIGN investors remained net buyers on Bursa Malaysia for a fifth week in a row with a modest RM15.0 mil in net foreign inflows which somehow mirrors the prior week’s RM12.8 mil.
They were net buyers on one out of four trading days as markets closed for the Thaipusam holidays on Feb 2 with the only inflow recorded on Friday (RM132.3 mil), according to MBSB Research (formerly MIDF Research).
“The largest outflows were seen on Thursday (Feb 5) (-RM64.8 mil) while Wednesday (Feb 4) and Tuesday (Feb 3) saw an outflow of -RM26.8 mil and -RM25.8 mil respectively,” observed the research house in its weekly fund flow report.
The top three sectors that recorded net foreign inflows were financial services (RM162.0 mil), plantation (RM37.0 mil) and construction (RM34.2 mil).
Meanwhile, the top three sectors with net foreign outflows were technology (-RM54.5 mil), property (-RM45.2 mil) and utilities (-RM41.7 mil).
Local institutions recorded a net outflow of -RM36.2 mil following two consecutive weeks of net buying.
Likewise, local retailers turned net buyers after ninth consecutive week of net selling with RM21.2 mil in net inflows.
The average daily trading volume (ADTV) saw a broad-based decline: local retailers by -19.7%, local institutions (-17.7%) and foreign investors (-23.5%).
In comparison with another four Southeast Asian markets tracked by MBSB Research, Thailand extended its net buying streak to four consecutive weeks with US$332.0 mil in net foreign inflows, its largest inflows in recent times.
The Philippines witnessed six successive weeks of net foreign inflows with a modest US$22.8 mil in net buying on the back of favourable inflation data and improving labour market fundamentals.
However, Vietnam recorded its fourth consecutive week of net selling at -US$216.0 mil which is around ~3.6x more compared to the previous week as many investors engaged in a “sell-to-avoid-risk” strategy.
Indonesia posted its third straight week of net foreign outflows at -US$68.0 mil which was primarily fuelled by a warning from global index provider MSCI that it could be downgraded from “Emerging Market” to “Frontier Market” status by May.
The top three stocks with the highest net money inflow from foreign investors last week were Public Bank Bhd (RM193.4 mil), AMMB Holdings Bhd (RM92.4 mil) and IJM Corp Bhd (RM75.7 mil). – Feb 9, 2026
