KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rebounded to close higher on Wednesday on selective buying of defensive stocks after a volatile trading session. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said consumer products and services stocks lifted the key index higher, overcoming lingering geopolitical concerns. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 3.08 points to 1,715.56 from yesterday’s close of 1,712.48. The benchmark index, which opened 1.91 points higher at 1,714.39, moved between 1,710.79 and 1,720.59 during the day’s trading. In the broader market, gainers outstripped decliners 550 to 476, while 612 counters were unchanged, 1,129 untraded, and 48 suspended. Turnover rose to 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.48 billion from 2.94 billion units valued at RM2.56 billion on Tuesday.
India's securities regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), is considering implementing tighter controls on micro-cap firms going public. These measures may include monitoring the use of IPO funds and imposing stricter due diligence guidelines for merchant bankers, according to a source involved in the discussions.
Among the potential steps under review are mandating a longer track record of profitability and increasing scrutiny of financial statements. These considerations come in response to recent instances of fraud in the micro-cap segment, which have raised concerns among regulators.
Despite these developments, Sebi is not inclined to take over the listing approval process for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd and BSE Ltd. This decision follows calls from some investors for direct oversight by the regulator. The discussions remain at a preliminary stage, and the measures may be revised before an initial draft is presented to Sebi's primary market advisory panel.
The market for micro-listings in India has seen significant growth since the pandemic, driven by investor interest in small businesses perceived to have strong growth potential amid the country’s accelerating economic expansion. Just two weeks ago, a $1.4 million IPO by a motorcycle dealership with only two outlets and eight employees was oversubscribed more than 400 times, raising questions about the quality of offerings in this niche market.
The surge in investor appetite for shares of firms with limited track records and some incidents of stock-price manipulation have prompted authorities to act. In August, Sebi halted the IPO of plywood maker Archit Nuwood Industries Ltd due to concerns over its financial accounts. Earlier in July, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) set a 90% cap on listing gains, while Sebi has consistently urged caution among investors when dealing with SME stocks.
A discussion paper outlining stricter listing rules for the micro-cap segment is expected to be released by the end of the year, according to Ashwani Bhatia, a Sebi whole-time member. Meanwhile, Sebi continues to seek a balance between investor protection and market growth.
"Sebi will be looking to strike the right balance between protecting investors and helping the market grow," said Narinder Wadhwa, managing director at SKI Capital Services Ltd. "The regulator could consider additional criteria like increasing the lock-in period for anchor investors," he added.
Emails sent to Sebi and calls made to its spokesman seeking comment remained unanswered.
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