MALAYSIA: Weekly Preview: The Macro, Valuation, Sentiment, Technicals Lens
Macro: Last week's major data release for Malaysia was Industrial Production for July. Having moderated in prior months, the result of +4.2% exceeded expectations, with some market commentators suggesting that the economy is starting to adjust now that tariff uncertainty is removed. This week the key release will be trade data out Friday. A consistent theme throughout the region is that exports are volatile, due to tariff uncertainty. Exports ramped up ahead of tariffs and then contracted post. Malaysia has followed this pattern and after a sizeable expansion in July of +6.80%, it is forecast that exports will moderate to +2.9%. Of equal interest will be imports. As a rough proxy for the state of the domestic economy, imports have stagnated. This comes at a time when the government are talking up the strength of the consumer and how supportive it is for GDP growth. Imports are forecast to expand a mere +0.5% for August.
Fig 1: Malaysia Exports and Imports YoY
Valuation: Based on the last 5-Years, the equity market is nearing the top end of the range for P/E and current forecasts are for a moderation into 2026. The 10-Yr government bond is back at 2021 levels when rates were starting to climb from their COVID period lows, yet well off all time lows. The MYR is at the mid-point of a 14 day Relative Strength Index suggesting it is at fair value.
Fig 2: FTSE Malay KLCI P/E Estimate Out to 2026
Sentiment: Sentiment for the equity market remains good with returns over the last month positive, though at the bottom end of the range for regional peers. For rates, we anticipated that with the BNM remaining on hold the mini rate rally we saw leading into it has the potential to unwind. This has now occurred suggesting that sentiment has normalized in rates.
Technical: USDMYR is approaching levels where it has bounced off 3-times in the last month, failing to hold beneath 4.2050. We start the week with the Ringgit testing that level again.
Fig 3: MYR vs Major Moving Averages
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AUSSIE 10-YEAR TECHS: (U5) Follows Fade in Treasuries
- RES 3: 96.501 - 76.4% of the Mar 14 - Nov 1 ‘23 bear leg
- RES 2: 96.207 - 61.8% of the Mar 14 - Nov 1 ‘23 bear leg
- RES 1: 95.960 - High Apr 7
- PRICE: 95.710 @ 15:17 BST Aug 15
- SUP 1: 95.415/95.300 - Low May 15 / Low Jan 14
- SUP 2: 95.275 - Low Nov 14 (cont) and a key support
- SUP 3: 94.707 - 1.0% 10-dma envelope
Aussie 10-yr futures received a boost from the US Treasury rally that followed both the recent poor NFP print as well as Tuesday’s inflation number. While this impact faded into the close of the week, 10-year futures remain toward the top end of the recent range. To the upside, next resistance is at 96.207, a Fibonacci retracement point. Next support undercuts at 95.420 (pierced), the Feb 13 low, ahead of 95.275, the Nov 14 low and a key support. Clearance of this level would strengthen a bearish condition.
FOREX: USD Index Pinned to 50-dma as Putin Shakes Hands with Trump
- USD slipped against all others Friday, with a poor set of retail sales and Uni of Michigan sentiment numbers meeting a higher-than-expected import price index to further stimulate concerns over a stagflarionary phase in the US economy. The USD Index trades either side of the 50-dma which, notably, has begun to flatten out after maintaining a solid downtrend throughout 2025.
- JPY is the strongest currency in G10, extending the breakout and bearish conclusion of the consolidation phase in USD/JPY. Recent weakness puts the price through support drawn off the early August lows as well as 146.71, a key retracement. Price action this week marks a full reversal of the previously overbought condition, keeping the downside argument in focus.
- Anticipation ahead of the Putin-Trump meeting has reached fever pitch. Footage showing the Presidents shaking hands in Alaska has helped ease concerns over a hostile meeting, but it's the outcomes that will matter to markets - particularly as equities hold at alltime highs. Any signs of progress toward a ceasefire would be warmly received by risk sentiment - although both Trump and Putin cautioned against a optimistic outcome in comments to press.
- We noted earlier in the week the pressure building on USD/HKD, with price action not matching the pattern of HKMA intervention. That move extended overnight, and is still building at typing, putting spot down to new pullback lows of 7.8119 shortly after the European open. Overnight swap rates have surged further still Friday (hitting 1.7% at typing), well ahead of the 0.3% prevailing rate mid-week and should continue to support a recovery in HIBOR fixes ahead. Today's 1m HIBOR fixed higher by 41bps, hitting 1.45% for the highest fix since mid-May. It's these factors that should work against the HKD carry trade (selling HKD, buying USD), evident in the further tightening of the HKD forward discount today: down 975 points from as high as 1270 this month.
- Focus in the coming week shifts to Jackson Hole and Powell's comments on Friday. With the September meeting still in flux - any conviction toward tipping the board toward a rate cut at the next FOMC will be carefully watched, but it's a hawkish outturn that could be more consequential for markets, as OIS prices a near 90% chance of easing on September 17th.
MNI: US TSY TICS NET FLOWS IN JUN +$77.8B
- MNI: US TSY TICS NET FLOWS IN JUN +$77.8B
- US TSY TICS NET L-T FLOWS IN JUN +$150.8B
