0134 GMT - Malaysian banks are expected to remain a key gauge of investor sentiment ahead of a potential early general election, given their large weighting in the local stock market and strong institutional ownership, says TA Securities analyst Li Hsia Wong in a note. While sector fundamentals remain sound, she expects political uncertainty and potential foreign fund outflows to weigh on valuations as election speculation intensifies. The current backdrop appears less supportive than during the previous election, amid slower loan growth, softer corporate activity and rising competition for deposits, she says. TA downgrades the sector's rating to neutral from overweight, citing rising election-related valuation risks despite still-solid fundamentals. Public Bank remains TA's preferred pick for its defensive qualities.(yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 24, 2026 21:34 ET (01:34 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.