28-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Bursa Malaysia Q1 earnings fall 9pct on higher costs, weaker trading
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd's net profit dropped 8.8 per cent to RM68.4 million for the first quarter ended 31 March 2025, from RM75.0 million a year earlier, due to higher overall operating expenses.
Revenue for the quarter stood at RM184.4 million, a 1.5 per cent decrease from RM187.2 million previously, dragged by lower operating revenue and weaker securities trading activity.
Operating revenue fell 1.7 per cent to RM177.7 million, while total operating expenses rose 6.7 per cent to RM92.9 million due to higher technology and subscription costs.
The weaker operating revenue was mainly attributed to a decline in securities market activity, with the average daily trading value for on-market and direct business trades falling 11.9 per cent to RM2.8 billion.
Trading velocity dropped to 33 per cent from 39 per cent a year earlier.
However, Bursa Malaysia reported stronger contributions from its derivatives and Islamic markets.
Revenue from the derivatives market rose 13.7 per cent year-on-year to RM28.9 million, driven by higher trading volume in crude palm oil futures contracts.
The Islamic market posted a 23 per cent increase in revenue to RM5.5 million, supported by stronger Bursa Suq Al-Sila' trading.
Revenue from conference fees and exhibitions climbed 12.1 per cent to RM7.1 million, while the data business segment grew 2.1 per cent to RM19.4 million.
Chief executive officer Datuk Fad'l Mohamed said despite external challenges, Malaysia's capital market remains resilient, backed by strong economic fundamentals and government policy support.
"Bursa Malaysia remains focused on strengthening market resilience through ongoing outreach efforts and enhanced product offerings, to broaden investor participation.
"We expect these initiatives will help cushion against external headwinds and sustain healthy trading activity across our markets," Fad'l said in a statement following the group's results announcement today.
He noted that Bursa Malaysia has recorded 16 IPOs to date, keeping it on track to achieve its 2025 target of 60 IPOs.
