BELOW are excerpts of viewpoints from two selected research houses on what investors can expect in the day ahead:
Berjaya Research
The FBM KLCI extended its decline on Friday with selling pressure predominantly concentrated in the first half of the trading session as the weakness was largely in tandem with the negative performance across regional markets.
Trading activity slipped with 2.43 billion shares exchanging hands compared to 2.57 billion shares in the previous session, underscoring the softer risk appetite.
Market breadth remained negative with 709 decliners overtaking 407 advancers as the broader market was not spared from profit taking.
Despite stronger-than-expected 4Q 2025 GDP (gross domestic product) print, the benchmark index failed to stage a meaningful intraday recovery as cautious investor sentiment and persistent external headwinds continued to overshadow signs of domestic macro-economic resilience.
Looking ahead, the FBM KLCI is likely to trade with a cautious bias amid lingering external uncertainties and relatively subdued investor participation.
With the mid-week festive break approaching, trading volumes may remain thin, keeping the index largely range-bound.
Technically, the FBM KLCI has formed a bearish candlestick and is poised for a consolidation.
The immediate resistances are now moved to 1,754 points and 1,760 points respectively. Meanwhile, the immediate support is pegged at 1,732 points, followed by the 1,720 points.
Malacca Securities Research
The ringgit’s strengthening towards the RM3.90/US$ level may spur trading interest in banking and consumer heavyweights such as Public Bank Bhd and 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Bhd.
This could also provide near-term upside for poultry players like Leong Hup International Bhd and CAB Cakaran Corp Bhd, the latter is seen as a laggard despite a lower input cost environment while the removal of government subsidies is expected to support egg ASPs (average selling prices).
Moreover, we believe TMK Chemical Bhd remains overlooked as a potential beneficiary of hyperscalers’ capex given that the chemicals it provides are building blocks for the E&E (electrical & electronics) industry, especially as memory developers look to ramp up capacity in Singapore.
The FBM KLCI retreated with technical indicators suggesting weaker momentum at this current juncture as the MACD histogram has tilted into the negative territory while the RSI remains below the 70 level.
Resistance is seen around 1,754-1,759 with support at 1,719-1,724. – Feb 16, 2026
