BELOW are excerpts of viewpoints from two selected research houses on what investors can expect in the day ahead:
Berjaya Research
The FBM KLCI ended lower on Monday as the weakness was mainly the result of an eleventh-hour profit taking in selected banking heavyweights.
Trading activity, however, rose to 3.74 billion shares from 3.23 billion shares in the previous session.
Market breadth was fairly even with 599 decliners against 579 advancers, reflecting uncertainty among lower-liner stocks.
The FBM KLCI may trade with a cautious undertone in the near term as lingering profit-taking activities, particularly among lower-liner stocks, could continue to weigh on overall market sentiment.
While selective buying in index heavyweights may lend some support to the key index, the upside momentum could remain limited amid the absence of strong domestic catalysts as well as on-going cautiousness surrounding the geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Investors are also likely to stay watchful ahead of the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) upcoming interest rate decision as any policy adjustment could influence regional funds flow and currency movements, potentially shaping the direction of regional equity markets.
Technically, the key index has formed a bearish candlestick, suggesting potential short-term profit taking could take place.
Near-term resistances remain located at 1,732-1,740 points. Meanwhile, the immediate support is at 1,710 points, followed by the 1,700 psychological level.
Malacca Securities Research
While the FBM KLCI has retreated, we believe market sentiment will continue to favour data centre (DC)-related sectors such as technology and utilities.
We like MClean Technologies Bhd as the group anticipates rising demand for precision cleaning driven by the HDD (hard disk drive) supercycle and its share price is supported above the 55 sen-58 sen zone.
We are also positive on the recovery in YTL Power International Bhd as the group benefit from the nation’s DC boom and bolstered by its on-going collaboration with Nvidia and its stake in Ranhill Utilities Bhd.
Lastly, should SanDisk’s results outperform, this should provide a positive sentiment for AI storage-related counters such as Dufu Technology Corp Bhd, JCY International Bhd and Notion VTec Bhd.
The FBM KLCI retreated marginally with its technical indicators still showing positive signals at this current juncture as the MACD histogram expanded strongly above the zero line while the RSI is trading above 50.
Resistance is seen around 1,732-1,737 with support at 1,697-1,702. – April 28, 2026
