KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign investors were net buyers for the second consecutive week across eight Asian markets, with net foreign inflows totalling US$4.39 billion (RM17.35 billion), according to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB).

In its fund flow report for the week ended April 17, 2026, the investment bank said net buying activities were led by Taiwan and India while net selling was led by South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. 

It said foreign institutions on Bursa Malaysia turned net sellers on three out of five trading days during the week, snapping the three-week streak of net buying, recording RM63.7 million in outflows.

"The largest outflow was recorded on Wednesday (RM102.3 million), followed by Thursday (RM87.5 million) and Friday (RM59 million). 

"The top three sectors that recorded net foreign inflows were financial services (RM342 million), energy (RM37.2 million) and plantation (RM32.3 million).

"Meanwhile, the top three sectors that recorded net foreign outflows were utilities (RM103.7 million), healthcare (RM99.1 million), and consumer products and services (RM79.5 million),” it said. 

MBSB IB said local institutions snapped its three-week net selling streak as it turned net buyers during the week, recording a net inflow of RM273.3 million, while retailers reverted to net selling, recording net outflows of RM209.6 million.