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Foreigners Pull Most Cash From Malaysian Stocks Since 2013

Malaysian stock market had a volatile start as overseas investors sold $625 million of stocks last week.

Foreigners Pull Most Cash From Malaysian Stocks Since 2013
Stock prices displayed on an electronic stock board are reflected on the trading gallery floor in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photographer: Sanjit Das/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- The gains in Malaysian equities since Mahathir Mohamed’s shock election win haven’t stopped an exodus of foreign money from gathering pace -- with this year’s almost $1 billion of overseas inflows into the market at risk of being wiped out.

The nation’s stock market had a volatile start following a three-day holiday for the election, before the benchmark inched up 0.4 percent for the week. But alongside that advance, overseas investors have been taking flight, selling $625 million of stocks last week, Malaysia’s biggest stock outflow since August 2013, according to data from Bursa Malaysia Bhd., the nation’s stock exchange.

“The main transactions are being done by the local funds to support the market along with retail investors,” Danny Wong Teck Meng, chief executive officer at Areca Capital Sdn. said by phone in Kuala Lumpur. “The local guys are much more confident for the prospect of the country than foreigners.”

Mahathir’s attempt to soothe investor jitters haven’t staunched the flows. The new prime minister introduced a team of five advisers well-known in official and business circles in Malaysia and intensified efforts to seek evidence of wrongdoing at the 1MDB sovereign fund. Foreign inflows had dwindled to just $10.3 million as of Friday, down from $937.8 million on April 30, the data show.

Foreigners Pull Most Cash From Malaysian Stocks Since 2013

So what’s keeping the stock market afloat? The price of oil has rallied, which will help boost government revenue and oil and gas contractors in Malaysia. There are also local funds that believe Mahathir will follow through with his promise to find ways to boost the stock market and lead a business-friendly administration.

The Bursa Malaysia Consumer Product Index rallied 7.9 percent last week to a record after the government said it would effectively remove a consumption tax effective June 1. The gauge rose as much as 1 percent Monday, while the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index climbed 0.6 percent.

Some strategists remain unconvinced by the market gains. CGS-CIMB Securities, which lowered its year-end target for the benchmark at 1,820 before the election, reiterated the projection on May 21. UOB Kay Hian Holdings Ltd. and Nomura Holdings Inc. said last week they were reviewing their views on the main measure and equities. On the flip side, Malayan Banking Bhd. has expressed optimism for financial markets following the election.

--With assistance from Emma O'Brien.

To contact the reporter on this story: Choong En Han in Kuala Lumpur at echoong6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Divya Balji at dbalji1@bloomberg.net, Teo Chian Wei

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.