KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher, buoyed by Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent, alongside positive cues from Wall Street. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.30 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 1,635.86 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56. The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, and fluctuated between an intraday high of 1,642.44 and a low of 1,622.62 during the trading session. However, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 723 to 497, while 466 counters were unchanged, 1,075 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.74 billion units valued at RM3.61 billion compared with yesterday’s 2.81 billion units valued at RM2.57 billion.
As dividend season heats up, investors are eyeing which Malaysian bank gives the most back to its shareholders —and Maybank (1155.MY) is clearly leading the pack with a generous 73% dividend payout ratio . What is Dividend Payout Ratio? It measures how much of a company’s net earnings are returned to shareholders as dividends. Formula: Per-share: DPS / EPS × 100% Aggregate: Total Dividends / Net Profit × 100% Example: If Maybank earns 83.61 sen per share and pays 61 sen in dividends → 73% payout = RM73 returned for every RM100 earned. Who’s the Most Generous? MAYBANK – 73% payout : Prioritizes shareholder rewards with stable, high cash returns. HLBANK : More conservative—prefers reinvesting for growth and resilience. CIMB, RHBBANK, PBBANK : Balanced strategy—combines dividends with regional expansion and risk management. Why a High Payout Ratio Matters 1. Real Cash Flow: Great for income-seeking investors like retirees. 2. Matu...