Invest M’sia draws 900 fund managers

KUALA LUMPUR: Invest Malaysia 2017 (IM 2017) has attracted about 900 fund managers with total assets under management (AUM) of US$19.9 trillion, a significant increase from US$11 trillion last year.

Bursa Malaysia Bhd chairman Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz said IM 2017 marked the 13th year that the exchange had organised the nation’s premier conference to showcase the best of whatMalaysia’s capital market had to offer.

“IM conference is unique in that it is a platform for fund managers, capital market drivers and captains of industry to gather and network, and most importantly, engage directly with Malaysia’s policymakers and regulators,” he said in his welcoming remarks at the opening of the two-day event.

CIMB Investment Bank is the co-organiser of IM 2017.

Amirsham said the facts and figures spoke volumes of Malaysia’s capital market.

“Since 2009, post-global financial crisis, our market capitalisation was up 177% to RM1.8 trillion as of June 2017.

“The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI had risen 101% while our average daily value increased 121% to RM2.5bil,” he said.

Since 2009, post-global financial crisis, our market capitalisation was up 177% to RM1.8 trillion as of June 2017. Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz

He said Malaysia’s equity market had also seen a record RM16.3bil of foreign institutional net flows into the country which was also deeper than its fast-growing neighbours.

“Our market capitalisation over gross domestic product was at 121% in 2016. And we are home to more than 900 public-listed companies, the highest in Asean.

“And if you need more evidence, in the last five years, new listings on Bursa Malaysia raised US$30.4bil, also the highest in Asean,” he added.

On Malaysia’s leading role in the world of Islamic finance and capital market, Amirsham highlighted that Malaysia is the world’s largest sukuk issuer, commanding 42% of the market share in 2016, with issuance value of US$72bil.

“Our syariah funds have also seen lucrative returns. Since 2010, the FBM Small Cap Shariah is up 55%, FBM Hijrah Shariah recorded a 34.5% increase, while the FBM Emas Shariah is up 27.5%,” he said.

CIMB Group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, in his welcoming remarks, said the bank had been co-hosting the event six times since its inaugural in 2005.

“The large participation from 159 fund management companies is an indication of the revival of investors’ interest in Malaysia.

“There is growing consensus that the long-awaited synchronise global recovery is finally here,” he said. — Bernama