logo
Bursa Malaysia Q2 earnings likely to fall on weak trading, says Affin Hwang

Bursa Malaysia Q2 earnings likely to fall on weak trading, says Affin Hwang

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd may report a second straight quarterly decline in earnings for the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25), as weak market sentiment and reduced trading activity continue to weigh on its performance.
Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd expects Bursa Malaysia's 2Q25 net profit to come in at RM64 million, down 6.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 20.3 per cent year-on-year.
Affin Hwang said the weaker performance would be attributed to lower trading activity across the board, particularly among local institutional investors.
"Due to a more cautious market sentiment, Bursa Malaysia saw another subdued quarter, with 2Q25 average daily value (ADV) declining to RM2.4 billion.
"This further dampens the overall the first half of 2025 equity ADV, which came in lower by 23.5 per cent year-on-year at RM2.6 billion," the firm added.
"Until there is more clarity regarding ongoing global trade negotiations, we believe investors are likely to maintain a wait-and-see approach, keeping market sentiment muted in the near term," Affin Hwang said.
Affin Hwang also revised its earnings forecast for Bursa Malaysia downwards, citing the lack of a strong catalyst in the second half of the year.
It also lowered its equity ADV assumptions for 2025, 2026 and 2027 to RM2.6 billion, RM2.8 billion, and RM2.9 billion respectively, from RM2.8 billion, RM2.9 billion and RM3.0 billion previously.
This has resulted in earnings forecast cuts of 5 per cent for 2025, and 3 per cent each for 2026 and 2027.
Bursa Malaysia is expected to release its latest results on July 29.
Affin Hwang maintained its "Hold" call on Bursa Malaysia but reduced its target price to RM7.50 from RM7.70 previously.
The firm said the revised valuation is based on a price-to-earnings ratio (PER) of 22 times, which is in line with Bursa Malaysia's 10-year average.
"At a calendar year 2026 price to earnings ratio of 23 times, Bursa Malaysia is trading slightly below the regional peers at about 26 times, which we view as fair given Malaysia's relatively smaller market capitalisation and lower trading velocity," it added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MARKET PULSE AM JULY 25, 2025 [WATCH]
MARKET PULSE AM JULY 25, 2025 [WATCH]

New Straits Times

time18 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

MARKET PULSE AM JULY 25, 2025 [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: News on stock, crypto and ringgit moves. Bursa Malaysia opened lower following two consecutive sessions of gains, mirroring the mixed performance on Wall Street. The index is expected to stay within the range of 1,535 to 1,550 throughout the day. Lotte Chemical Titan was the most actively traded stock in the morning session, slipping two per cent to 69 sen with 12.1 million shares changing hands. In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin is trading lower at RM496,000, while Ethereum is hovering around RM15,455. That's it for Market Pulse.

Bursa opens 0.36pct easier after two-day rally, tracking mixed global cues
Bursa opens 0.36pct easier after two-day rally, tracking mixed global cues

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

Bursa opens 0.36pct easier after two-day rally, tracking mixed global cues

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia opened on a low note on Friday after recording gains over two consecutive sessions, tracking the mixed performance of global markets. At 9.15am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) erased 4.59 points to 1,535.73, after closing at an intra-day high of 1,540.32 yesterday. The index had opened 1.60 points lower at 1,538.66. Turnover stood at 214.97 million shares valued at RM113.71 million. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd Head of research Kenny Yee said Wall Street closed mixed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended lower due to the sell-off on IBM. "Over in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index continued its winning streak to stay within the 25,700 mark as sentiment remains buoyant with the United States (US) looking more forthcoming in negotiations amid the ongoing trade tension, and many are hoping a deal may be agreed between the US and the EU soon. "On the home front, the FBM KLCI displayed another decent performance as it ended at the 1,540 level, possibly from institutional support in view of the upcoming results season," he told Bernama. Yee said that the index is expected to maintain its positive course and trend in the 1,535-1,550 range today. Among the heavyweights, Maybank lost two sen to RM9.61, Tenaga Nasional reduced 18 sen to RM13.76 and CIMB was one sen easier at RM6.69, while IHH Healthcare earned three sen to RM6.68 and Public Bank was flat at RM4.31. As for the active counters, NexG advanced one sen to 52.5 sen, Green Packet added half-a-sen to five sen and Lotte Chemicals was one sen lower at 69.5 sen, while TWL, Pharmaniaga and SFP Tech were unchanged at 2.5 sen, 22 sen and 20 sen, respectively. On the broader index board, the FBM Emas Index erased 30.76 points to 11,520.41, the FBMT 100 Index slid 31.96 points to 11,282.60, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index shed 39.34 points to 11,541.62. The FBM 70 Index was 39.42 points lower at 16,619.45, while the FBM ACE Index added 0.88 of a point to 4,643.39. Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index reduced 10.21 points to 17,495.37 and the Industrial Products and Services Index slipped 0.41 of a point to 157.75, while the Energy Index rose 1.17 points to 739.85 and the Plantation Index inched up 1.02 points to 7,470.98.

Women taking the lead
Women taking the lead

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Women taking the lead

The 30% Club is driving gender diversity in leadership roles, setting the stage for a more inclusive and effective corporate world The 30% Club is a global campaign aimed at boosting female representation in leadership roles, particularly in boardrooms and the C-suite, to at least 30%, with the ultimate goal of achieving gender parity (50:50 representation). Beyond social and ethical considerations, empirical evidence suggests that diverse boards enhance decision-making, which is crucial for sustainable business practices. Why 30%? The 30% target, initially an aspirational goal when women represented only 12% of FTSE 100 boards in 2010, marks the critical mass necessary for minority voices to impact boardroom dynamics. It is a minimum objective with the ultimate aim of achieving gender balance or parity. Increasing female leadership aligns with ESG principles, particularly the social pillar, by fostering environments where inclusive policies are more likely to flourish, leading to more responsible governance and ethical decision-making. The 30% Club advocates business-led, voluntary action over quotas, believing this is the most effective means for meaningful, sustainable change. Women built connections and fostered a community of future leaders and innovators at 30% Club Malaysia Speed Mentoring 2025 event. 30% Club Malaysia Chapter Launched by the Prime Minister in May 2015, the Malaysian Chapter seeks to transform corporate Malaysia through a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Focusing on achieving at least 30% female representation on the boards of Bursa Malaysia-listed companies, it also welcomes non-listed entities and global multinational companies as Corporate Advocates. Strategic pillars Activate: Creating a network of companies committed to accelerating DEI adoption, involving collaboration with business leaders like chairs and chief executive officers (CEOs) to help achieve gender balance goals. Over 80 corporate supporters have joined this initiative. Influence: Links the investment community, government bodies, regulatory agencies (such as the Securities Commission and Bursa Malaysia) and government-linked investment companies to build a robust coalition advancing DEI. Enable: Nurtures future leaders by offering mentoring, scholarships for executive education and programmes that prepare women for board positions. Progress in Malaysia Women representation on the top 100 public-listed boards in Malaysia reached 30.9% in 2023 and 31.4% in 2024, up from 14% in 2015. However, the overall percentage across all 900+ Bursa companies remains below 30% (28%). Female representation at the C-suite level is 40% but is on a declining stage (38%), highlighting more work is needed Journey to leadership The 'Owning Your Ascent' speed mentoring event, held at Menara Star, used a speed-dating format to facilitate quick, focused conversations with seasoned C-suite leaders, known as mentors for this session. It provided a platform for exchanging insights, knowledge and networking opportunities to support participants' career and personal development. The event's theme suggests agency, growth and ambition, encouraging women to take charge of their development and envision their ascent in career, influence or confidence. With over 90 engaged participants, mentors noted the distinct value women bring to leadership. Paynet Group chief executive officer Farhan Ahmad highlighted that diversity drives innovation by bringing varied approaches to decision-making, strengthening the overall group. He emphasised the importance of women believing in themselves and advocating for their worth, noting, 'You only control one thing in this world, yourself. The biggest glass ceiling you have is nowhere else but your mind.' He views his role as removing barriers and providing opportunities for women to showcase their potential. CIMB Group Holding independent non-executive director Ho Yuet Mee emphasised women's ability to balance big-picture thinking with meticulous attention to detail, along with multitasking skills. Emeliana advocates for diversity and inclusion in the oil and gas sector. Board director and former PETRONAS vice president of exploration and upstream Emeliana Rice-Oxley affirmed that all leaders add value by providing insights for improved decision-making and risk management. Women leaders, in particular, often naturally exhibiting communal traits like collaboration and care crucial for building trust and inclusion. However, the journey to leadership is lined with challenges. Reflecting on her 35 years in the male-dominated oil and gas industry, Emeliana noted she never once reported directly to a female, illustrating the absence of female role models. Her advocacy for DEI, which began in 2015, revealed that many women face obstacles such as unconscious bias and the demands of family responsibilities. This sentiment was echoed by mentee Deloitte audit and assurance partner Chiam Chee Hooi, citing balancing extensive family commitments with a demanding career, particularly with weekly travel between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, as a significant personal challenge. Malaysia Aviation Group Group Business Integrity manager Aimi Fahmi described her 11 years in middle management as 'gathering years,' an intentional period to absorb knowledge and overcome the plateau many women experience before senior leadership. Her approach can be likened to a tree strengthening its roots and trunk before it can support a larger canopy. Shalini Singh, a CnetG client partner, defines 'ascent' as growth into a role that enables a deeper, purposeful impact—a journey she resumed after a seven-year career break to raise her children. She is now focused on establishing her personal brand within her firm. A path forward The quest for gender parity in leadership is ongoing, but with collective effort, support, and unwavering commitment to inclusion, the vision of achieving a balanced leadership landscape is within reach. The 30% Club stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the transformative potential of diversity, urging women to own their ascent and shaping a future where their voices are heard, valued and integral to decision-making.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store