By NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / Pic By TMR

Foreign buying yesterday peaked at RM279.3 million net, highest net inflow since Jan 23, 2018, which led to the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI’s biggest daily gain of 0.94% in 15 trading days.

Foreign investors acquired a net total of RM141.2 million worth of Malaysian equities last week, offsetting near half of the RM299.1 million net sold in the previous week, said MIDF Research.

However, it was later adversely affected by US President Donald Trump’s ousting of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last Wednesday that led to the benchmark index settling at the week’s lowest of 1,845 points.

Foreign selling further increased last Friday as foreign funds withdrew RM227.5 million.

On a year-to-year basis, March has recorded a net outflow of RM207.4 million versus the RM4.37 billion net inflow registered last year amid the 14th General Election anticipation.

“Foreign average daily trade value (ADTV) increased by 46% to RM1.64 billion, marking its 11th week of staying above RM1 billion.

“Retail participation rate remained vibrant too with its ADTV remaining above RM1 billion for the fourth consecutive week,” the research house noted.