Several stockbroking firms have expanded their buy suspension list requiring cash upfront for clients intending to buy small-cap and penny stocks.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Amidst the ongoing selling wave impacting small-cap and penny stocks, selected brokers have expanded the buy suspension list, requiring cash upfront for any buy orders.

Three new counters have been added to the already extensive buy suspension list, including Imaspro Corp Bhd, Rapid Synergy Bhd, and Sarawak Cable Bhd.

Imaspro Corp and Rapid Synergy are two counters associated with prominent investor Datuk Dr Yu Kuan Chon. Notably, Rapid Synergy hit the limit down again on Monday shortly after the opening bell in the morning.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Cable, which has experienced a decline of 46.34% since the beginning of this year, was among the top active stocks on Bursa Malaysia on Monday, with approximately 22.94 million shares changing hands — more than twice its 200-day average volume of 8.6 million shares. Its shares closed five sen or 2.33% higher at 22 sen, marking the end of five consecutive days of losses.

According to a note to its clients seen by The Edge, an investment bank stated that the cash-upfront requirement would be imposed on any buy orders for the counters under the buy suspension list, applicable to both margin and non-margin accounts.

Other stocks already in the list include Artroniq Bhd, Mestron Holdings Bhd, Leform Bhd, Mercury Securities Bhd, Jentayu Sustainables Bhd, APB Resources Bhd, Widad Group Bhd, Pertama Digital Bhd, Tanco Holdings Bhd, Globetronics Technology Bhd, Dataprep Holdings Bhd, Silver Ridge Holdings Bhd and YNH Property Bhd.