Latest news with #StandardCharteredMalaysia
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Country's interest in transition investing growing
Standard Chartered Malaysia head of wealth and retail banking Harmander Mahal. PETALING JAYA: Investors in Malaysia rank second highest when it comes to interest in transition investing, according to Standard Chartered Bank. In a survey, it said 91% of investors in Malaysia indicated very strong interest in transition investing, versus 88% recorded for sustainable investing, Standard Chartered said in its latest Sustainable Banking Report. The report was based on a survey of 1,600 high-net-worth individuals across eight markets. Across the markets, the survey results revealed that 83% are interested in sustainable investing, while 87% are keen on transition investing. 'As Malaysia pushes ahead on the path to net-zero by 2050, sustainable finance has emerged as a catalyst for the shift to decarbonisation. Our affluent clients have also shown increasing enthusiasm in the concept of transition investing with climate transition funds growing in prominence,' said Standard Chartered Malaysia head of wealth and retail banking, Harmander Mahal. He added that this presents an opportunity to convert that interest into action by equipping investors with the knowledge to integrate transition investing into their portfolio, as the economy moves towards the decarbonisation agenda in the long term. Transition investing involves funding companies in high-emitting sectors, helping them to reduce their emissions and align their business with a net-zero trajectory. This also reflects the growing prominence of climate transition funds, with assets under management growing steadily over the years, said the report. While investor appetite is strong, the findings show a gap in understanding, with only 15% of investors able to fully define the concept of transition investing. The report said despite the interest, investors also face several barriers when it comes to transition investing, with perception of higher risks (50%) – a top consideration among investors. The others are lack of benchmarking to compare investment products (46%) and the perception that such investments could bring about low returns (44%). The results for Malaysia painted a slightly different picture, with low returns (59%) and lack of benchmarks (56%) being the top two points of concerns.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
StanChart: 87pct of wealthy investors eye transition investing
KUALA LUMPUR: Standard Chartered's new research shows rising momentum for transition investing, with 87 per cent of high-net-worth investors surveyed showing strong interest in the growing asset class. In a statement today, the bank also highlighted continued enthusiasm for sustainable investing, with 83 per cent of respondents keen on opportunities in that space. In Malaysia, it said 91 per cent of investors surveyed indicated very strong interest in transition investing, slightly higher than the 88 per cent recorded for sustainable investing. Both showed the second highest interest among the markets surveyed. These findings were revealed in the Bank's latest Sustainable Banking Report, which this year looks at transition investing and its potential to become the next wealth frontier. The report, titled "Transition investing: the next wealth frontier?", is based on a survey of 1,600 high-net-worth individuals across eight markets – Hong Kong, India, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. The report revealed investor interest in a range of transition themes with the potential to support the shift towards a low-carbon economy, with green hydrogen (49 per cent), low-emission fuels (47 per cent), and carbon capture and storage (45 per cent) emerging as the top three themes of interest. Investors in Malaysia indicated similar themes of interest, led by green hydrogen (51 per cent), followed by electric vehicles (44 per cent) and low-emission fuels (43 per cent). Despite growing interest, the report highlighted that investors face several barriers when it comes to transition investing. The perception of higher risks (50 per cent) was a key consideration among investors, with the report also highlighting concerns around the lack of benchmarking to compare investment products (46 per cent) and the view that such investments could yield low returns (44 per cent). In Malaysia, however, the results painted a slightly different picture, with low returns (59 per cent) and lack of benchmarks (56 per cent) emerging as the top two concerns. While investor appetite is strong, the findings indicated a gap in understanding, with only 15 per cent of investors able to fully define the concept of transition investing. To address this challenge and support clients, Standard Chartered has launched a Transition Investing Guide to provide clear and practical investor guidance for evaluating transition-related funds. Standard Chartered Malaysia head of wealth and retail banking Harmander Mahal said as Malaysia pushes ahead on the path to net zero by 2050, sustainable finance has emerged as a catalyst for the shift to decarbonisation. "Our affluent clients have also shown increasing enthusiasm in the concept of transition investing with climate transition funds growing in prominence. "For us, this presents an opportunity to convert that interest into action by equipping investors with the knowledge to integrate transition investing into their portfolio as the economy move towards the decarbonisation agenda in the long term," he added.
Barnama
17-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
US Dollar Seen Weakening Over Next 12 Months, Ringgit, Asian Equities To Benefit
BUSINESS By Anas Abu Hassan KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- A weakening US dollar is expected to continue benefiting the ringgit and Asian equities going forward, albeit with a volatile outlook in the second half of 2025 (2H 2025), according to Standard Chartered Bank. Its senior investment strategist, Yap Fook Hien, noted that the bank is not expecting the greenback to bounce back in the near term as most of the weakening has already been factored in. "Our view is that the US dollar will be weaker at least for the next 12 months because of the cyclical factors, and we expect it to be lower as our target is that the US Dollar Index (DXY) would slip to 96 points. "But it is also important to note that we are not looking at a collapse of the US dollar. Our forecast is for 12 months, so beyond that we are going to see how the economy develops and grows, but for the moment we do not see a bounce back," he said in a press conference on the 2H 2025 global market outlook. According to Yap, the bank has identified key themes for investors to consider in the remaining half of the year against the backdrop of dollar weakening, including an overweight on global equities with a tilt towards Asian markets excluding Japan. "The weak US dollar will be positive for equities, and essentially, when the dollar is weak, the Asian ex-Japan equity markets tend to do well. Our two preferred markets are China and South Korea equities," he said. Standard Chartered Malaysia's head of managed investment and advisory, Ng Shin Seong, said he believes the ringgit will continue to trade range-bound between 4.20 and 4.30 against the US dollar as much of the greenback's weakening has already been priced in. He reckons that the interest rate differential between the United States and Malaysia will also narrow down, given the recent pre-emptive rate cut by Bank Negara Malaysia on its overnight policy rate (OPR) as well as the expectation of US interest rate cuts in the coming months. Standard Chartered Malaysia's head of wealth and retail banking, Harmander Mahal, said in a statement that despite ongoing global trade shifts and geopolitical tensions, global equities have remained robust, rising eight to 10 per cent quarter-to-date. "This reflects sustained investor confidence and a reacceleration in risk appetite, particularly across Asia, where emerging markets benefited from stronger capital inflows and currency tailwinds.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Shining a light on trade successes
Celebrating industry excellence: (Front, from left) Standard Chartered Saadiq Malaysia CEO Bilal Parvaiz, Tio, SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, Chan, Shahril, Wong, Mastura, Chia, Mak, Jai Shankar and Wang posing with the award winners at EEA 2024 Gala Night. — GLENN GUAN/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's export sector continues to thrive, driven by agile and resilient businesses, says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz at the Export Excellence Awards (EEA) 2024 Gala Night. The Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said businesses must adopt forward-looking strategies in today's rapidly evolving global landscape. 'Malaysia's exporters have demonstrated remarkable adaptability and resilience, contributing to the continued strength of our trade sector,' he said in the keynote address yesterday. His speech was delivered by the ministry's deputy secretary-general (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa. The nation's top exporters were celebrated at the prestigious EEA 2024 Gala Night, recognising outstanding contributions in propelling Malaysia's global trade presence. Organised by Star Media Group (SMG) in partnership with Standard Chartered Malaysia, the EEA marks its fifth year as a premier platform showcasing exemplary Malaysian exporters who have demonstrated innovation, resilience and excellence in the international marketplace. A total of 30 outstanding exporters were honoured across 14 award categories, celebrating their achievements across various sectors and company sizes. Notable accolades included the Special Award: Rising Star, presented to Euro Facade (M) Sdn Bhd; Woman Exporter of the Year (SMEs) to Joanne Tay of KJH Wood Industrial Sdn Bhd; and Woman Exporter of the Year (Mid-tier and Large Companies) to Sarah Ho of Hovid Bhd. GPRO Global Sdn Bhd and Swift PMAS Sdn Bhd were named Exporters of the Year for the SME and Mid-tier/Large Company categories, respectively. Tengku Zafrul further highlighted the strategic importance of the EEA, saying the collaboration between SMG and Standard Chartered Malaysia is a testament to how strategic partnerships can drive industry growth. 'Since its inception five years ago, the EEA has played a crucial role in showcasing and elevating Malaysia's top exporters in the global arena, reinforcing our nation's competitiveness. 'It also fosters a robust ecosystem that encourages knowledge-sharing, best practices, and capacity-building among industry players,' he said. Among the distinguished guests present were SMG chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, Standard Chartered Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Mak Joon Nien, SMG group CEO Chan Seng Fatt, Standard Chartered Malaysia chairman Datuk Yvonne Chia, Standard Chartered Malaysia independent non-executive director Tan Sri Shahril Ridzuan, Matrade Export Promotion and Market Access Division senior director S. Jai Shankar, PKT Logistics Group group chief executive and managing director Datuk Seri Dr Michael Tio and SMG chief operating officer Lydia Wang. Mak provided a broader economic perspective in his remarks, highlighting global fiscal trends and technological disruption. 'Back in 2019, the US government debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 74%. Today, it has risen to 124%, marking a 70 percentage-point increase in just five years,' he said. Drawing comparisons with Malaysia, Mak noted: 'Despite having seen four different governments since 2019, Malaysia has displayed remarkable resilience, maintaining an average GDP growth of around 4% over the last five years. This underscores the strength of our economic fundamentals.' Mak also pointed to the country's performance in the EEA, where over 60% of submissions since 2019 have come from high-value industries. 'Export performance has grown from RM986.4bil in 2019 to RM1.508 trillion in 2024 – a 53% increase – demonstrating the country's ability to recalibrate and thrive,' he added. In his address, Chan emphasised the EEA's founding vision. 'The EEA was established with a clear purpose – to shine a spotlight on Malaysian exporters who have successfully carved their mark in global markets. 'Over the past five years, we have witnessed remarkable growth, resilience and inspiring success stories that have solidified Malaysia's reputation as a dynamic trading nation,' he said. Chan also underscored the growing importance of digitalisation and sustainability in trade. 'Our exporters have shown an extraordinary ability to weather economic uncertainties and embrace digital transformation, sustainability and global expansion as the new cornerstones of success. 'The future of Malaysian exports lies in these pillars, which will ensure our continued competitiveness on the world stage,' he said. PKT Logistics Group co-sponsored the EEA 2024, with Matrade serving as patron and BDO as the official auditor.
Malay Mail
22-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2025 slots sell out within hours of opening
KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 — The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2025 sold out in record time, with all public slots snapped up within hours of registration opening at 10am today. This year marks the 17th edition of Malaysia's premier marathon, which has consistently drawn strong interest from local and international runners. Race director Rainer Biemans thanked the community for its continued support and passion for running. 'We are humbled every year by the overwhelming response from the running community and greatly appreciate their enthusiasm,' he said in a statement. He said the KLSCM continues to be a platform where runners push their limits and aim for personal milestones. Priority Registration, Run For A Reason (RFAR) entries, and Corporate Challenge slots had opened earlier on April 17. Organisers said interested runners can still join the RFAR charity initiative or the Corporate Challenge for a chance to race. Standard Chartered Malaysia will also offer a limited number of complimentary slots to selected Priority Banking clients between April 23 and May 31. The KLSCM, which will take place on October 4 and 5, is Malaysia's premier running event drawing over 40,000 runners from more than 70 countries, competing for RM500,000 in prize money.
