Bank Negara Malaysia declared a RM5 billion dividend for 2025 , maintaining payouts to the government despite a moderation in earnings . Earnings Ease After Strong Prior Year BNM reported net profit of RM12.45 billion in FY2025 , down 5.7% YoY from RM13.16 billion. The decline was driven by: Lower total income (RM14.35 billion vs RM14.98 billion) Costs related to reserve management and monetary operations Despite softer earnings, the central bank sustained its second consecutive RM5 billion dividend , following a record RM5.25 billion payout in 2024 . Strong Reserves Provide Stability A significant portion of profits — RM7.45 billion — was allocated to the risk reserve , which rose to RM155.31 billion . This reserve acts as a financial buffer against: Exchange rate volatility Global financial market fluctuations BNM highlighted that 85% of its assets are denominated in foreign currencies , re...
The US exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry, valued at $10.4 trillion, witnessed an eventful 2024, marked by record inflows and fund launches alongside near-unprecedented closures. Here's an overview of the year's key trends:
A Mixed Bag: Record Launches and Closures
- Closures: Nearly 200 ETFs shut down in 2024, approaching early-pandemic termination rates.
- Funds focused on ESG themes, China, and cannabis saw significant closures.
- Launches: Over 700 new ETFs debuted, marking a record second-consecutive year of launches.
- Successful launches included Bitcoin and Ether spot ETFs and leveraged single-stock ETFs targeting popular stocks.
Saturated Market Challenges
- The US market now hosts 3,900 ETFs, making it increasingly difficult for new funds to achieve scale.
- Many ETFs fail to meet the asset and trading thresholds required by institutional investors and trading platforms.
- The timeline for success has shortened significantly, with new funds now expected to show promise within 18 months, compared to three years previously.
Factors Driving the Boom
- Regulatory Changes:
- Securities and Exchange Commission rule updates in 2019 and 2020 eased the creation of actively managed and derivatives-based ETFs.
- White-Label Issuers: These firms streamline ETF launches, reducing the barriers for entrepreneurs to bring products to market.
The Fee War and Rising Costs
- Fierce competition among issuers has intensified a fee war, squeezing profit margins.
- New ETF issuers need at least $250,000 in working capital for the first year, excluding marketing expenses.
Success Stories: Niche Appeal
- Niche products, such as leveraged ETFs tracking MicroStrategy Inc. and single-stock ETFs from firms like GraniteShares, have thrived.
- Retail-focused marketing has proven more effective for many new ETFs compared to targeting institutional investors.
Outlook: Growing Challenges
- The ETF landscape continues to evolve, with barriers to entry lower than ever, but barriers to long-term success growing steeper.
- With more entrants and tighter competition, navigating the ETF market in the coming years will demand precision, innovation, and strategic marketing.
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