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.
Key Takeaways: Significant Pay Raises: US debt capital market professionals are projected to see a 23%-35% increase in total compensation for 2024 compared to 2023, driven primarily by higher bonuses. Managing directors in debt markets may earn $825,000 to $1.5 million , while top-tier bond traders could earn $1.7 million to $3 million . Debt Issuance Surge: US investment-grade bond issuance rose 25% to $1.47 trillion in 2024, while high-yield issuance jumped 54% to $269.2 billion. European debt markets approached record levels seen during the pandemic, and Asia-Pacific issuance also climbed. Economic Drivers: Strong economic conditions and expectations of pro-business policies under President-elect Donald Trump have fueled corporate borrowing. Companies are capitalizing on favorable interest rate environments to secure funding. Industry Trends: Other high-performing sectors include leveraged finance (17.6% pay increase) , energy markets, and equity derivatives. Overall fina...