FBM KLCI expected to hit 1,800 points by year-end

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia is expected to hit the 1,800 level by year-end, lifted by a potential rebound in corporate earnings growth after three years of no growth, said Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (IB) head of retail equities Lim Chee Kiong.

He said the core earnings of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI’s (FBM KLCI) component stocks were forecast to grow 7.3 per cent this year and 7.9 per cent next year.

“Apart from that, the local bourse will be supported by a rally ahead of the 14th General Election (GE), which is due by August next year, and the 2018 Budget to be tabled on October 27,” he said after Maybank IB’s workshop on market outlook for the second half of this year yesterday.

Historically, he said there would be a little bit of run-up to pre-GE and all the way to the announcement of the GE date, after which there would be a slight dip before recovering again.

Asked on the participation of foreign investors, he said the fund flow reported a net buy for the first seven months of this year, followed by net sell for a month.

Foreign inflow was back in the black, with year-to-date foreign fund amounting to RM10.8 billion compared with a foreign outflow of RM3.1 billion.

“We can expect some balancing by the investors after that, however, it will have a minimal impact on the bourse,” he added.

On the national gross domestic product growth, Maybank IB expected a fullyear growth of 5.5 per cent, underpinned by private consumption, infrastructuredriven investments and firmer external trade growth.

The other key factors are consumer sentiment and conclusion of major corporate demerger, and merger and acquisition exercises.

On the macroeconomic front, pressure on Malaysia’s economy had eased substantially at the beginning of the year, reflecting economic recovery, currency and external reserves stabilisation as well as sustained current account surplus and fiscal consolidation.

Commenting on the tense relationship between the United States and North Korea, he said the market was expecting both countries to go back to the negotiating table. Bernama