KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
Despite global headwinds and rising trade tensions, Malaysia emerged as Southeast Asia’s IPO champion in the first half of 2025 — leading the region in both number of listings and total capital raised.
IPO Snapshot (Malaysia – 1H 2025):
32 IPOs (+48% YoY)
US$940 million raised (+109% YoY)
US$4.04 billion market cap (+165% YoY)
With these numbers, Bursa Malaysia has outpaced regional peers and is on track to hit its target of 60 IPOs for the year, according to Deloitte Malaysia.
Outlook: Cautious Optimism
Deloitte’s Wong Kar Choon remains positive but notes rising geopolitical risks and US tariffs could:
Delay listings (especially for export-heavy companies)
Shift investor interest toward defensive or consumer-driven stocks
“Strong consumer brands will likely dominate IPO pipelines due to their stable demand and market presence,” he noted.
Southeast Asia Overall – Mixed Picture
| Metric | H1 2025 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Listings | 53 | ↓ 21% |
| Capital Raised | US$1.4B | ↑ 3% |
| Market Cap | US$7.7B | ↑ 33% |
While the number of IPOs across SEA dropped, investor interest remained firm, as seen in higher capital inflows and valuation growth.
Investor Takeaways:
Malaysia IPO Scene is Hot: Mid-cap and consumer-driven companies are seeing solid demand. Opportunities may lie in post-IPO performance of brands with local market dominance.
Geopolitics Matter: Export-oriented IPOs could face headwinds from tariffs and supply chain volatility — watch for delays or valuation discounts.
Defensive Plays Are Back: In volatile environments, consumer staples, utilities, and local services tend to outperform.
Regional Trend: Despite fewer listings, SEA IPOs are growing in size and maturity — a bullish signal for regional equity capital markets. a
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