BELOW are excerpts of viewpoints from two selected research houses on what investors can expect in the day ahead:
Berjaya Research
The FBM KLCI retreated for the fourth consecutive session, slipping below the 1,700 psychological level as persistent geopolitical risks resulted in further net selling from foreign funds.
The weakness was accompanied by softer trading activity with total volume easing to 3.58 billiuon shares from 3.99 billion shares in the previous session.
Market breadth remained firmly negative with 810 decliners overwhelming 428 advancers, indicating continued broad-based selling pressure.
Looking ahead, we expect the FBM KLCI attempting to find its footing following the recent volatility.
Investors will closely monitor the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later this week with markets increasingly pricing in the possibility of a 25bp rate hike amid elevated oil prices and renewed inflationary pressures.
A rate hike would mark the first increase since July 2023 and could weigh further on global risk appetite and emerging-market equities.
Technically, the local bourse has formed a bearish candlestick to dip below the 1,700 psychological level.
The next supports are now located at 1,680 points and 1,676 points respectively. Meanwhile, the immediate resistances are shifted to 1,714 points, followed by 1,722 points.
Malacca Securities Research
With global markets focusing on the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate decision this week alongside a shortened local trading week, we expect the FBM KLCI to remain cautious.
Glove counters have regained buying interest, underpinned by higher ASPs (average selling prices) from Chinese glove makers and stronger ASP projections amid rising raw material and coal prices.
This should raise Chinese production costs and reduce aggressive price cuts, thus easing price-war pressure on local glove counters. However, as valuations are elevated, traders are encouraged to trade on pullbacks.
Lastly, we like Pentech Holdings Bhd which is seeing strong growth in cloud and managed services, and should benefit from on-going enterprise digitalisation.
The FBM KLCI experienced a pullback below the MA200 and 1,700 points level with technical indicators showing weakening signals with the MACD histogram trading at its negative territory while the RSI is trading toward 30.
Key resistance lies within 1,701-1,706 with support expected around 1,666–1,671. – Sept 14, 2026
