Capital Markets News

Do you know? EPF 1Q2026 performanceFixed‑income instruments (bonds and sukuk) generated RM6.76 billion, about 24% of total income, in line with their role as the core stabiliser of the portfolio. This segment earned returns of 1.02% p.a. in 1Q, or 4.1% annualised, and this brought down the overall returns for EPF. Equity Debt Commodities Digital…

Do you know? EPF 1Q2026 performanceEquities contributed RM20.34 billion in 1Q2026, up 88% from RM10.80 billion a year earlier, and made up roughly 73% of total investment income for the quarter. This surge was attributed to broad‑based market gains early in the quarter as improving risk sentiment lifted “most major indices”, including the US, Japan,…

Do you know? EPF 1Q2026 performanceEPF’s first-quarter income was boosted by a deliberate front-loading of profit realisation, meaning the RM27.73 billion result should not be annualised. The fund chose to lock in gains early amid expectations of more volatile markets ahead, so subsequent quarters may be less impressive even if the underlying portfolio remains sound….

Do you know? EPF 1Q2026 performanceEPF’s first-quarter investment income jumped 51% year-on-year to RM27.73 billion, even as global markets were mixed in Q1 2026: the S&P 500 fell 4.33%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.19%, the Nasdaq 100 fell 5.82%, MSCI Europe ex-UK declined 2.3%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose about 10.5%, South Korea’s KOSPI…

Do you know? Repo and reverse repoIf there is too much cash in the system and overnight rates are drifting too low, the central bank can do a repo against government securities to temporarily pull cash out from the banks. In contrast, if banks are short of reserves and overnight rates are drifting too high,…

Do you know? Repo and reverse repoRepo and reverse repo are implementation tools, not the main policy signal itself. They help the central bank keep the overnight rate within its target range by fine-tuning liquidity conditions in the money market. In practice, repo supports tighter conditions by absorbing excess cash, while reverse repo supports easier…

Do you know? Repo and reverse repoIn a reverse repo, the central bank buys securities and gives cash to the banks, with an agreement that the banks will buy the securities back later at a slightly higher price. Economically, this is a collateralised loan, and it injects reserves into the banking system while the transaction…

Do you know? Repo and reverse repoIn a repo, the central bank sells securities today and receives cash from the banks, with the agreement that the central bank will repurchase the securities later. For the central bank, this takes cash out of the system temporarily and drains reserves, thereby helping overnight rates rise or preventing…

Do you know? Repo and reverse repoMonetary policy is how a central bank influences interest rates, money supply, inflation, employment and overall economic stability, helping to smooth business cycles and keep prices stable while supporting growth. When a central bank increases the money supply, borrowing usually becomes cheaper and interest rates tend to fall, which…

Do you know? US-Iran MOUTwo factors will drive the MOU into lasting peace. Firstly, both sides suffer from economic pressure. Iran desperately needs economic relief after years of sanctions and war devastation, while the US faces enormous military costs and energy market volatility. Secondly, Iran’s agreement to not develop nuclear weapons is in line with…