Malaysia recorded 47 initial public offerings (IPOs) that raised RM6.1 billion ($1.5 billion) in the first nine months of 2026, leading the region by both listing count and proceeds, according to Bursa Malaysia.
The listings contributed RM28.7 billion in market capitalisation during the period, the exchange said in its financial results announcement on Wednesday.
The fundraising activity lifted Bursa’s listing and issuer services revenue by 64.1% year-on-year, supporting broader revenue growth alongside stronger securities and derivatives trading.
Average daily trading value for on-market securities trades also rose 27.6% to RM3.2 billion in the first nine months. In the derivatives market, average daily contracts increased 19.3% to 113,120, driven primarily by crude palm oil futures and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI futures.
“The 47 IPOs during the period, together with the 27.6% increase in Securities Market ADV and 19.3% growth in Derivatives Market ADC during the period, point to healthy participation across our markets,” Bursa Malaysia CEO Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed said.
Fad’l said Malaysia’s domestic fundamentals remained supportive of capital raising and investment, although geopolitical uncertainty and tighter global financial conditions were making investors more discerning in allocating capital.
The exchange’s strategic initiatives include enhancements to the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI and Mid 70 indices, the MY Value Up programme, and efforts to deepen regional and international market linkages, including between Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Bursa reported profit after tax, zakat and minority interest of RM214.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, up 13.5% from RM189.3 million a year earlier. Operating revenue rose 19.8% to RM620.8 million.
For the third quarter, net profit increased 10% to RM70.2 million from RM63.8 million in the corresponding period last year.
Non-trading revenue grew 19.3% to RM229.4 million, accounting for about 37% of operating revenue, driven by higher listing and issuer services revenue.
Operating expenses, meanwhile, rose 23.4% to RM349 million, reflecting investment in talent and technology, as well as regulatory fees.
Malaysia’s listing pipeline has been supported by mature small and medium-sized businesses, a tiered listing framework and a deep pool of domestic institutional capital, as DealStreetAsia previously reported. However, the concentration of smaller offerings has raised concerns about whether investor demand and trading liquidity can keep pace with the volume of new listings.
