Asia
Malaysian Shares Extend Gains After Bank Negara Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged
Malaysian shares ended in green on Thursday, extending gains of the last four sessions, as the central bank kept interest rates unchanged.The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI added 1.98 points to end 0.1% higher at 1,758.85. The day range was between 1,758.42 and 1,768.46.In economic news, Malaysia's central bank kept the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75%, in line with market expectations. Bank Negara Malaysia said global growth stayed resilient in early 2026, supported by strong domestic demand and continued expansion in the technology sector. However, higher energy and commodity prices, along with supply chain disruptions linked to Middle East tensions, are starting to weigh on momentum.Meanwhile, Malaysia's trade agency MATRADE has generated about 126.4 million ringgit in potential export deals through its International Sourcing Program (INSP), MATRADE announced in a Facebook post. Under the program, held in conjunction with SEMICON Southeast Asia, 49 Malaysian companies linked up with 14 international buyers from 12 different countries, including the US, Taiwan, and Switzerland.In corporate news, Pansar (KLSE:PANSAR) unit Perbena Emas secured a contract worth 234.9 million ringgit from Sarawak's Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to upgrade the Kaki Wong Water Treatment Plant. Shares ended flat on Thursday.Clean energy company Sunview (KLSE:SUNVIEW) completed the second tranche of the private placement after listing and quoting 9.1 million placement shares on the ACE Market of Bursa Securities.
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