Foreign investors net seller for fifth consecutive month

Foreign investors continued to be net sellers for the fifth consecutive month on the local stock exchange, with KLCI emerging as the worst performer among neighbouring peers in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand (MIST) in January 2023.

KLCI traded in a tight range of 1,469 to 1,500 points last month, as concerns over potential overnight policy rate (OPR) rate hike as well as policy changes were offset by potential boost from China’s reopening, according to CGS CIMB Research.

The KLCI gained following the surprised decision by BNM to pause the OPR hike in the recent meeting on 19 Jan. However, KLCI gave up all the gains during the last day of trading on 31 Jan, due possibly to rebalancing exercise and foreign selling. Overall, KLCI fell 0.7% month-on-month (m-o-m) to 1,486 pts in Jan 2023, the report said.