KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign investors turned net sellers across eight Asian markets last week, recording a significant outflow of US$7.12 billion (RM31.68 billion), reversing the prior week’s inflow streak, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd.
South Korea saw the heaviest withdrawals, with a net outflow of US$4.44 billion — nearly 20 times the previous week — driven by political instability following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and newly announced US tariffs of up to 26%.
India followed with US$1.21 billion in outflows, after US President Donald Trump’s announcement on April 2 of a 10% baseline tariff and a 27% tariff specifically targeting Indian goods, effective April 9.
Taiwan experienced its sixth straight week of outflows at US$814.6 million, amid concerns over a 32% reciprocal tariff on Taiwanese imports to the US.
Other notable outflows included:
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Vietnam: US$345 million (9th consecutive week), impacted by a 46% tariff
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Thailand: US$202.4 million (6th week), impacted by a 36% tariff
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Philippines: US$14.9 million (2nd week)
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Indonesia: No fund flows recorded due to Hari Raya market closures
On Bursa Malaysia, foreign investors marked their 24th straight week of net selling with an outflow of RM426.6 million, although this was lower than the previous week’s RM1.15 billion due to two days of market closure for Hari Raya.
Local institutions continued to absorb the outflows with RM369.1 million in net buying, while retail investors returned as net buyers with RM57.5 million in inflows.
Participation levels declined across the board, with foreign and institutional trading volumes down 11.7% and 28.8%, respectively. Local retail activity saw a marginal increase of 2.2%.
— BERNAMA
