Capital Markets

Amidst a mixed earnings performance around the world in 2015, Malaysia’s capital market posted modest growth over the course of the year. The sector grew by 2.1% in 2015, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia, the capital market regulator, to reach RM2.82trn ($698bn) by the end of the year, which was 2.5 times the size of the economy. Bursa Malaysia, the nation’s stock exchange, accounted for roughly 60% of this total, with a year-end market capitalisation of RM1.7trn ($420.8bn), while outstanding debt issuances made up the remaining RM1.12trn ($277.2bn). This follows on from half a decade of steady growth in the total value of Malaysia’s capital market. In recent years the country has emerged as a substantial player in a number of areas including fund management, sharia-compliant finance and debt issuance. This chapter contains interviews with Foo Su Yin, CEO, RAM Ratings; and Shahril Ridzuan, CEO, Employees Provident Fund.