Malaysia capital market size grows to RM2.9 trillion

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian capital market has expanded to reach RM2.9 trillion in size and offered diverse products ranging from stocks, equity crowdfunding and exchange-traded fund.

The Securities Commission (SC) deputy chief executive Datuk Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin advised the public to invest in the capital market to achieve their financial goals.

"It is a comfortable figure as we have diverse products. Investors can chose to invest in stocks, unit trusts, bonds, private retirement schemes, equity crowdfunding, derivatives or exchange-traded fund," he told reporters after officiating the third annual InvestSmart Fest in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Ahmad Fairuz also said the number of young investors in the country was growing.

The three-day investor education fair, beginning Friday, drew more than 40 capital market institutions to jointly educate and encourage the public to "invest the smart way".

It also assembled 46 exhibitors that included Bank Negara, the Employees Provident Fund, Bursa Malaysia, Securities Industry Dispute Resolution Center and the Private Pension Administrator.

Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Fairuz said through the investor education fair, the SC hoped to see greater financial inclusion and better investment capability among Malaysians.

"Investment literacy is a lifelong skill that every Malaysian should acquire to better navigate through the investment landscape to achieve their financial goals," he said.

Ahmad Fairuz was optimistic the investor education fair would attract about 10,000 visitors versus around 6,000 last year. - Bernama