Foreign investors started off the second week of 2023 on a negative note by progressive net selling at -RM4.7m, -RM12.0 m, and -RM73.3m of Malaysian equities, before gradually turning to net buyers at RM2.3m and RM40.98m on the last two days. This resulted in net outflows of -RM46.8m for the week. However, on YTD basis, foreign investors recorded net inflows of RM25.6m in 2023.
The top three sectors which saw net inflows by foreign investors last week were Industrial Products and Services at RM39.2m, Technology at RM24.0m, and Healthcare at RM17.0m. The three sectors with the largest net outflows were Consumer Products and Services at -RM77.9m, Telecommunications, and Media at -RM26.9m, and Financial Services at -RM20.6m.
Meanwhile, local institutions had net bought RM339.4m last week. They were net buyers every day last week with the highest net inflow on Thursday at RM119.3m and the lowest net inflow on Friday at RM26.7m. YTD, local institutions had net bought a total of RM215.0m of Malaysian equities in 2023, higher than foreign investors. The local interest from our local institutions could be due to the continuous upbeat momentum in our domestic economy and modest expansion in the external sector.
On contrary, the local retailers turned to net sellers every day this week with the highest net outflow recorded on Thursday at -RM121.6m and the lowest net outflow on Wednesday, at -RM24.9m. For the week, retailers had net sold -RM292.6m. YTD, the local retailers had disposed of -RM240.5m worth of Malaysian equities.
In terms of participation, there was an increase in average daily trading volume (ADTV) among retail investors, local institutions,s and foreign investors at 13.7%, 34.6%, and 38.1% respectively.
