Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy is expected to expand at a slower pace of 4% to 4.5% this year from the 5% a year, according to a Moody's Investors Service poll.
The international ratings agency said on Monday the poll conducted here in the latter part of March
shows that more than half (58%) of the respondents surveyed expected the 4% to 4.5% gowth
A Moody's vice president and senior research analyst Rahul Ghosh said the results were in line with its view that Malaysia's headline real GDP growth rate would slow to 4.4% in 2016, although there are downside risks to this view.”
"Given the open nature of its economy—with exports and imports combined accounting for 131% of GDP—Malaysia is susceptible to a prolonged period of subdued global demand and weaker commodity prices, which will result in slower investment demand, and downward pressure on exports and government receipts," he added.
Ghosh also pointed out Malaysia's high household debt burden—equivalent to 89.1% of GDP in 2015—would constrain the ability of private consumption to support domestic demand.
He was speaking on Moody's just-released report titled "Malaysia – Inside Asean. The view from Malaysia".
As for the ringgit, the broad view among market participants was that the currency has improved significantly, and that the ringgit will show stability against the US dollar over the next 12 months.
Of the respondents polled, 53% expect the ringgit to consolidate in a range of 4 to 4.20 against the US dollar over the next 12 months while roughly a third expect a mild appreciation, within a range of 3.50-4 to US dollar.
“Moody's says that the recent let-up in dollar appreciation, together with an improvement in Malaysia's trade surplus and foreign exchange reserve position, provide a reasonably supportive backdrop for the ringgit.
“And, even if the ringgit were to remain weak, or embark on a renewed depreciatory trend, the overall exposure of Malaysia's sovereign and banks to foreign exchange risks would remain manageable,” it said.
Moody's added that the predominance of funding in the local currency meant weakness in the ringgit has not led to increased debt distress in the corporate and banking sectors, and the knock-on impact on interest rates has remained muted.
Moody's explained Malaysian government foreign-currency denominated debt accounted for just 3.4% of the total government debt at end-2015.
Meanwhile, the net open foreign exchange positions of Malaysian banks represent a modest 1%-5% of their capital levels, and most foreign exchange loans are granted to exporters, which will balance the risk of currency volatility.
“As for the banks, of the participants surveyed at the event, 40% believe that high household leverage poses the greatest risk to Malaysian banks in the coming 12 months, followed by corporate defaults, which garnered 27% of total votes. The slowdown in China, weak commodity prices and
local property market trends each received roughly 10%-12% of the votes,” it said.
Moody's view is that Malaysian banks face rising credit risks in 2016, as slower growth and weaker corporate and household balance sheets challenge asset quality.
On the exposure of Malaysian banks to the oil and gas sector, 54% of people polled expressed slight concerns, but believe that most oil and gas companies remain in good shape, and therefore such exposures will be manageable for the banks.
Of the banks rated by Moody's, exposures to oil and gas—and related companies— made up between 2% and 3% of the banks' gross loans, or 15% to 23% of Common Equity Tier 1 capital, at end-2015.
“Moody's says that the banks' low share of energy-related loans should prevent a major spike in
their overall non-performing loans.
“Moody's further points out that of the participants polled, 47% said that governance concerns represent the largest structural challenge to Malaysia's medium-term growth, while 27% cited high private sector indebtedness,” it said.
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