KUALA LUMPUR (July 15): Foreign investors continued their buying spree on Bursa Malaysia for the second consecutive week, amassing RM478.2 million, according to MIDF Research in a note on Monday.

A significant portion of this inflow, RM389.2 million, was recorded last Thursday, following Bank Negara Malaysia's decision to keep the overnight policy rate at 3%, after a two-day Monetary Policy Committee meeting. 

The central bank has maintained this rate since May 2023, where it was raised from 2.75%.

The key sectors attracting foreign investment last week were construction (RM198.2 million), utilities (RM116.1 million), and industrial products and services (RM111.8 million). 

Conversely, sectors experiencing net foreign sales included consumer products and services (-RM92.7 million), energy (-RM33.4 million), and healthcare (-RM21.9 million).

Local institutions reversed their trend, with net sales of domestic equities amounting to RM318.5 million after three weeks of net buying. Similarly, local retailers remained net sellers for the second straight week, totaling RM159.8 million in sales.

Average daily trading volume trends showed a mix. Local retailers saw a 1.3% decline, whereas local institutions experienced an increase of 10.9%, followed by foreign investors with a rise of 24.7%.