KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Foreign funds have returned to the domestic market after RM195.3 million worth of Malaysian equities were net bought last week compared to net selling of RM512.3 million a week before, said MIDF Research.
Prior to that, the research house in its Fund Flow Report for the trading week ending February 17 said foreign investors have been net selling for five consecutive weeks with the net outflows amounting to RM860.9 million.
“Every trading day last week was a net buying day by the foreigners except on Friday as it saw an outflow of RM25.9 million and year to date, foreign investors have net sold RM593.3 million,” it said.
It said the highest amount of net inflow came on Wednesday to the tune of RM103.2 million, while Thursday saw the second highest as it amounted to RM74.4 million in terms of net buying.
“The sectors that saw net foreign inflows last week were healthcare at RM56.5 million, construction at RM41.6 million and financial services at RM40.2 million.
“Meanwhile, sectors that saw net foreign outflows were plantation at RM18.8 million, utilities at RM12.4 million and property at RM6.4 million,” it said.
Meanwhile, MIDF Research said local institutions have net sold RM140.2 million worth of Malaysian equities after five consecutive weeks of net buying with Tuesday recording a net inflow of RM16.2 million, while the rest of the week recorded outflows.
“The heaviest outflow was seen on Wednesday (February 15) at RM53.2 million and local institutions have net bought RM819.8 million year to date,” it said.
The research house noted that local retailers were net sellers last week to the tune of RM55.1 million, a sharp reversal from the RM263.8 million net bought during the week ended February 10.
“Only Monday and Friday saw net inflows of RM7.0 million and RM40.1 million, whereas local retailers were net sellers at RM226.6 million year to date,” it said.
In terms of participation, it said there was a decrease in average daily trading volume among local retailers (-14.9 per cent), local institutions (-16.0 per cent) and foreign investors (-12.3 per cent).
— Bernama
