Bursa Malaysia Stocks to Watch (22 Jun 2026): US-Iran Peace Talks Stay in Focus - M+ Global's Picks

Markets open the week with one big unresolved theme: peace talks between the United States (US) and Iran. Even as a ceasefire process moves forward, a fresh development has added uncertainty for investors on Wall Street and on Bursa Malaysia.

This article summarises the M+ GLOBAL Market Update dated 22 June 2026, themed "US-Iran Peace Talks Remain In Focus". One thing to be clear about: all the market views and the "stocks to watch" list below are the analysis and opinion of M+ Global, not buy or sell recommendations from mahersaham.com. We share this summary purely as reference and market education.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not investment advice. It is a summary of a third party's views (M+ Global) for educational purposes. Any decision to buy or sell shares is your own responsibility. Please do your own research or consult a licensed financial adviser before investing.

Background: Why US-Iran Is the Market's Focus

The US-Iran ceasefire negotiations are currently taking place in Switzerland. In theory, a peace deal should calm markets because it lowers geopolitical risk in the Middle East.

However, a new event has highlighted just how fragile this agreement is. Iran has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz again, following Israel's strike on Lebanon. This closure is a reminder that the peace being negotiated is not yet firm, and could unravel at any time.

What is the Strait of Hormuz, and why does it matter? The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that serves as the main exit point for global oil exports. When this route is disrupted, worries about global oil supply rise, and that usually rattles market sentiment. The immediate impact of this closure on regional markets has already been felt, as reported by Bernama. We have explained the broader effects of this issue in our article on the Strait of Hormuz crisis 2026.

This is why markets "remain in focus" on the US-Iran theme. As long as the status of the Strait of Hormuz and the Switzerland talks remain unclear, investors tend to stay cautious.

Wall Street Outlook: Starting Cautiously

According to M+ Global, Wall Street is expected to begin the week cautiously. The reason is clear: even though the peace talks offer hope, the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz reminds investors that geopolitical risk has not fully subsided. For more context on how Middle East tensions move oil prices and energy stocks, read our Middle East geopolitics analysis.

A "Hawkish" Fed Benefits Bank Stocks

Another factor M+ Global highlights is the hawkish stance of the Federal Reserve (Fed). The term hawkish refers to a central bank that leans toward raising interest rates to control inflation. M+ Global cites a projection of one rate hike by the end of the year as a move to fight inflation.

Why does this matter for bank stocks? When interest rates are higher, banks usually enjoy a wider net interest margin, which is the gap between the interest a bank charges on loans versus the interest it pays to depositors. A wider margin can boost bank profits.

On that basis, M+ Global likes large US investment banks such as:

• Morgan Stanley (MS)
• Goldman Sachs (GS)

M+ Global sees both banks as potential beneficiaries of a higher interest rate environment. For Malaysian investors interested in how Fed decisions ripple into our market, see Fed Meeting: What Bursa Investors Should Watch.

Burlington Stores (BURL): An S&P 500 Candidate to Watch

M+ Global also likes Burlington Stores (BURL), described as a candidate for inclusion in the S&P 500 index (the index of the 500 largest US companies). Technically, M+ Global notes that BURL's chart is awaiting a breakout, the moment when price pushes through a key resistance level that can typically open up room for further gains.

M+ Global's thesis behind BURL is a consumer rotation into the "off-price" retail segment. Off-price retailers are stores that sell branded goods at discounted prices (think TJ Maxx or Ross). When consumers become more frugal, this segment often attracts more shoppers, and this is the trend M+ Global sees supporting BURL's prospects.

Bursa Malaysia Outlook: KLCI Begins the Week Cautiously

Turning to the local market, M+ Global expects the FBM KLCI (the index of Bursa Malaysia's 30 largest companies) to also start the week cautiously, on the back of the same Strait of Hormuz closure. Cautious global sentiment usually spreads to regional markets, including Bursa Malaysia.

Even so, M+ Global sees several interesting local themes and sectors to watch.

Theme 1: A CPO Price Rebound Supports Plantation Stocks

With CPO (crude palm oil) prices rebounding or recovering, M+ Global continues to favour plantation stocks. When CPO prices rise, plantation companies usually enjoy better sales and margins. M+ Global's preferred plantation stocks are:

• SOP (Sarawak Oil Palms)
• UTDPLT (United Plantations)
• JPG (Johor Plantations Group)

To understand why CPO prices move in cycles and when investors typically pay attention to this sector, read Plantation Stocks: The CPO Price Cycle & When to Get In.

Theme 2: Riding the Photonics Wave in the Data Centre Boom

M+ Global also points to opportunities in photonics, a technology that uses light (not electricity alone) to transmit data at high speed. Photonics is becoming increasingly important in the data centre construction boom because it enables faster and more energy-efficient data transfer.

To ride this theme, M+ Global notes that traders can position into NE, which it describes as poised for breakout and which has just announced excellent 2QFY26 quarterly results. This data centre theme is no small matter in Malaysia; we have explained its scale in Malaysia's data centre boom.

Theme 3: An LWSABAH Breakout Backed by Improving Margins

Another local stock M+ Global likes is LWSABAH, which it sees breaking out. According to M+ Global, this breakout is supported by improving fundamentals, namely:

• Improving margins, driven by a higher ASP (Average Selling Price) as well as lower Resin raw material costs. Resin is a base material in plastic production, so lower resin costs help profit margins.
• Higher production capacity, following the start of operations at Sandakan Sibuga Plant 1 in June 2025.

It is this combination of better margins and added capacity that underpins M+ Global's positive view on LWSABAH.

Full "Stocks To Watch" List (M+ Global's View)

Beyond the themes above, M+ Global lists several stocks to watch across various sectors. Again, these are M+ Global's views, shared for reference only:

Sector	Stocks to Watch (M+ Global)
Technology	GREATEC, JHM, KGB, UWC
Utilities	KJTS, RANHILL
Construction	GAMUDA, MITRA
Consumer	UCHITEC
Property	UEMS

This list shows M+ Global paying attention across growth sectors (technology), defensive sectors (utilities), and sectors that are sensitive to budgets and projects (construction and property). Investors can use this list as a starting point for their own research, not as an automatic buy signal.

What Can Investors Do in This Environment?

In a cautious market like this, a few basic principles remain relevant:

1. Understand the source of the views. The stocks to watch above come from M+ Global. Before acting, check the charts, financial reports, and Shariah status (where relevant) of each stock yourself.
2. Monitor US-Iran and Strait of Hormuz developments. Because it is still "in focus", any fresh news can move sentiment quickly. Official references such as Bursa Malaysia and news portals such as RTM can help you follow the latest developments.
3. Manage your risk. Geopolitics-driven markets can change direction quickly. The breakout themes M+ Global mentions do not guarantee profits; they are simply a technical view at one point in time.

For investors looking to start trading Bursa and overseas shares, you can refer to our guide on how to buy Bursa Malaysia shares using the Mplus Global app.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Is the list of stocks in this article a recommendation from mahersaham.com?
No. All the market views and the "stocks to watch" list in this article are M+ Global's analysis. Mahersaham.com only summarises and explains those views for educational purposes, not as a buy or sell recommendation.

2. What does "US-Iran Peace Talks Remain In Focus" mean?
It means peace talks between the US and Iran are still the market's main focus. Although a ceasefire is being negotiated in Switzerland, Iran's renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz shows the deal is still fragile, so investors keep monitoring developments.

3. Why can a "hawkish" Fed benefit bank stocks?
A hawkish stance means the Fed leans toward raising interest rates. Higher rates usually widen a bank's net interest margin, the gap between loan interest and deposit interest, which can boost profits. That is why M+ Global likes banks such as Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS).

4. What is the "off-price" retail mentioned for Burlington Stores?
Off-price is a retail model that sells branded goods at discounted prices. When consumers become more frugal, this segment often draws more shoppers. M+ Global sees a consumer rotation into this segment as support for Burlington Stores (BURL).

5. Why is a CPO price rebound important for plantation stocks?
CPO (crude palm oil) is the main product of plantation companies. When its price recovers, plantation companies' sales and profit margins usually improve. That is the basis for M+ Global continuing to favour stocks such as SOP, UTDPLT and JPG.

6. What is the link between photonics and data centres?
Photonics is a technology that uses light to transmit data at high speed and with greater energy efficiency. In the data centre construction boom, demand for photonics solutions rises, and this is the theme M+ Global sees as rideable through stocks such as NE.

7. Are the stocks mentioned Shariah-compliant?
This article does not confirm the Shariah status of any stock. If Shariah compliance is important to you, please check the stock's status in the list of Shariah-compliant securities issued by the Securities Commission Malaysia before investing.

Conclusion

The big market theme on 22 June 2026 is the still-unresolved US-Iran peace talks, with the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz adding uncertainty. In this environment, M+ Global expects Wall Street and Bursa Malaysia to begin the week cautiously, while spotting selective opportunities in US banks, off-price retail, local plantations, data centre photonics, and breakout stocks such as LWSABAH. All of this, again, is M+ Global's view, shared as educational reference.

If you want to continue your investing journey better prepared, the first step is to have an account that lets you trade.

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Further Reading

• US-Iran Peace: Oil Falls, Tech Stocks Soar - What It Means for Bursa Investors
• Strait of Hormuz Crisis 2026: What Is the Impact on Malaysians?
• Plantation Stocks: The CPO Price Cycle & When to Get In
• Fed Meeting This Week: What Bursa Malaysia Investors Should Watch
• RM185 Billion Into Malaysia - Who Wins From the Data Centre Boom?

Source of market views and stocks to watch: M+ Global Market Update (22 June 2026). This article is not investment advice.