KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended higher on Friday as investors continued to accumulate blue-chip stocks in line with stronger performances across most regional markets. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 4.50 points to 1,724.90 from yesterday’s close of 1,720.40. The benchmark index opened 0.83 of a point higher at 1,721.23, and moved between 1,715.67 and 1,730.12 throughout the day. The broader market was positive with gainers outpacing losers 707 to 402, while 547 counters were unchanged, 1,085 untraded and 56 suspended. Turnover expanded to 3.03 billion units valued at RM3.56 billion from 2.49 billion units valued at RM2.25 billion on Thursday.
Trump’s tariff storm may be unsettling global markets — but for Wall Street’s biggest banks, it's proving to be a golden opportunity.
JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Citigroup (C) just posted some of their strongest trading quarters in years, fueled by surging market volatility from sweeping tariff announcements.
🔥Q2 Trading Blowout
JPMorgan:
Equity trading revenue: $3.25B – a Q2 record, following an all-time high in Q1
Fixed income: $5.69B – crushing expectations
Investment banking fees: +7% YoY (vs -14% expected)
Citigroup:
Stock trading revenue: $1.61B
Fixed income trading: +20% to $4.27B
Investment banking fees: +13% YoY to over $1B
What the Execs Are Saying
“Volatility is going to be a feature, not a bug, of the new world order.”— Jane Fraser, CEO, Citigroup
“The revenue growth is not coming for free. We are deploying a lot of capital, and we’re earning good returns.”— Jeremy Barnum, CFO, JPMorgan
Why It Matters for Investors
Market swings caused by Trump’s rapid-fire tariff letters — affecting China, Indonesia, the EU, and more — are a double-edged sword. While they cloud dealmaking and corporate planning, they supercharge trading desks, particularly in equities and bonds.
Volatility = Opportunity for traders
Deal activity rebounding despite uncertainty
Top banks outperforming due to scale and trading firepower
Caution Zone: Not All Banks Benefiting
Wells Fargo (WFC) also saw trading and investment banking gains, but underperformed expectations, highlighting that only the best-capitalized players may thrive in a volatile regime.
Investment Takeaway
As geopolitical tensions and policy risks remain elevated, banks with strong trading arms (like JPM, C, MS) are likely to outperform in the short term. Keep an eye on Q3 guidance, as sustained volatility could continue to fatten bottom lines.
Smart Investor Tip:
Look beyond just the revenue surge. Focus on cost of capital, trading efficiency, and deal pipeline growth to assess whether Q2’s strength can carry into year-end.
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