Is The Local Retailer Not In The Market?

Some had been concerned with the lack of volume in the local market.

Without volume, it means that there is not much buying interest.

And without the buying interest, how high can the stock market go?

On Star Biz on Saturday Whither stock market?

• Of volumes and liquidity
  
  A dealer who has been trading the Malaysian market over the last 10 years says it is getting increasingly difficult to do so. He adds that foreign transactions have been insignificant. Over the last two weeks, locals made up some 80% of the volumes.
  
  “Yes, you see 1 billion volumes being transacted in the last two weeks, but there’s no real liquidity in the market. Retailers are definitely not in. They are actually very few participants in the market. It is just the institutions that are supporting the market,” the dealer says.
  
  On this note too, he says foreigners do not view Malaysia as an attractive market.
  
  “They cannot short our market because it goes up very easily. Under the FBM 30 index, the top 5 stocks already make up some 50% of weightage. Once these stocks move, the index goes up, hence there is no opportunity to short. And for the foreigners to buy now, there is no upside. Hence what do they do? Exit the market of course,” says the dealer.

Firstly, who the dealer? Dealer from which company?

Anyway, this unknown dealer does have a point or two.

• ......... but there’s no real liquidity in the market. Retailers are definitely not in. They are actually very few participants in the market. It is just the institutions that are supporting the market,”

Is this point valid?

Is there a lack of volume?

If so... is the retailers not in the market?

Why?