KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was the best performing among Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand for the 10-month period despite its decline in October.
For the 10-month 2024 period, the FBM KLCI led Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand (MIST) markets in terms of index growth, at 10.1 per cent year-to-date.
CGS International in its note said the FBM KLCI fell 2.9 per cent month-on-month (mom) to end October at 1,602 points, outperforming both the MSCI Emerging Market Index (-4.4 per cent mom) and the MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan Index (-4.5 per cent mom).
October was a relatively weak month for Asean markets with Thailand's Stock Exchange of Thailand's 1.2 per cent mom gain, being the best among the MIST markets for the second consecutive month.
CGS International said of Bursa Malaysia's 13 sectorial indices, only five posted gains, with the three best performing sectorial indices in on a mom basis being construction (+2.2 per cent), real estate investment trust (REIT) (+1.8 per cent), and healthcare (+1.3 per cent).
The three worst-performing sectors in October on a mom basis were utilities (-7.2 per cent), telecomunications (-3.1 per cent), and consumer (-2.5 per cent).
Average daily trading value on Bursa was down 24.7 per cent mom to RM2.5 billion in October, while average daily trading volume 12.6 per cent mom to 2.8 billion units, making it three consecutive months of decline.
The market capitalisation of Bursa Malaysia's Main Market fell 2.1 per cent mom to RM1.94 trillion at end-Oct 2024.
In terms of value, foreign investors' participation in Malaysian equities trades saw a pullback of 2.8 per centage points mom in Oct 24, after rising to an all-time high of 42.6 per cent in Sep 2024.
CGS International said it believes uncertainties surrounding the US economy and profit taking led to investors being cautious in their trading, leading to the decline in average trading value and volume.
"We believe that recent newsflow on Chinese government policies to stimulate the economy also contributed to the diversion of trading flows out of Malaysia," it said.
CGS International reiterates its year-end KLCI target of 1,760 points and see room for further share price gains in 2025F, underpinned by a shift to a weak US dollar world, good domestic corporate earnings growth, and further policy catalysts (including consumption boosts, fiscal consolidation and project rollouts).