Friday 8 January 2010

Low Foreign Ownership in Malaysian Stock Market

Foreign investors were conspicuosly absent from the scene whenthe Malaysian stock market jumped 50% between mid-March 2009 and now.


This was evident in the insignificant level of trading activity by foreign investors (just 25% of trading value in Jan-Sept 2009) and the persistent net portfolio investment quarterly outflows (since 3Q07) with foreign ownership standing at a five-year low.


That may soon change.  Among the speculated reasons are:
  • Coming off from a depleted base, foreign funds could trickle back into Malaysia, especially if global equities turn increasingly volatile ahead. 
  • As the risk-reward profile tilts in the opposite direction because of stretched valuations, strategiests may be tempted to make a gradual tactical switch to more defensive low-beta markets like Malaysia.
  • The prospect of an appreciating rinngit is an added appeal for investors in search of incremental investmen returns.

 Some under-owned stocks - with foreign shareholdings far below their recent peaks - that could increasingly come under the investment radar of foreign investors again are:
  • CIMB (33% foreign shareholding in June 09),
  • IJM Corp (34%),
  • MRCB (19%),
  • SP Setia (28%) and
  • Tenaga (11%)

Ref:  HwangDBS Vickers Research

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