BELOW are excerpts of viewpoints from two selected research houses on what investors can expect in the day ahead:
Berjaya Research
The FBM KLCI recovered all its intraday losses to edge higher on Monday, driven by buying support among selected banking heavyweights.
Trading activity, however, continues to moderate with 3.03 billion shares from 3.46 billion shares in the previous session as sentiment is somewhat cautious.
Market breadth turned negative with 657 decliners outnumbering 500 advancers as broader market participation stayed subdued.
Outlook on the FBM KLCI is on a slight positive bias in the near term as the key index managed to recover and close marginally above the 1,700 psychological level.
While intermittent buying interest in selected heavyweight counters could provide a boost to the heavyweights, the persistent weakness in market breadth suggests that overall risk appetite remains cautious.
Investors may stay on the sidelines ahead of key global economic data such as the US retail sales data – slated to be release later tonight – and continues to keep a close watch on geopolitical developments in West Asia.
Technically, the key index is likely to tilt towards a slight upward bias tone following the breakthrough of the 1,700 psychological level.
The move could power the key index towards the next resistances located at 1,716-1,722 points. Meanwhile, near-term supports remain located at the 1,681-1,673 levels.
Malacca Securities Research
Tracking Wall Street’s negative overnight performance and the rebound in global oil prices, we expect the spill-over effect to manifest in the local bourse while we await greater clarity on Middle East conflict developments.
Nevertheless, we remain optimistic about utility players like Southern Cable Group Bhd, CBH Engineering Holding Bhd and MN Holdings Bhd as they continue to benefit from the country’s data centre boom and act as proxies for Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s grid upgrades.
Traders could also position themselves in MClean Technologies Bhd as the company is poised to benefit from increased precision cleaning and sterilisation orders on the back of the semiconductor upcycle.
Lastly, MTT Shipping and Logistics Bhd will make its Main Market debut today.
The FBM KLCI rebounded with its technical indicators showing improving signals at this current juncture as the MACD histogram expanded into the positive territory while the RSI has started to trade above 50.
Resistance is seen around 1,717-1,722 with support at 1,682-1,687. – April 21, 2026
