KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd posted its highest ever first half net profit at RM122 million for the period ended June 30 2018.
The results were primarily driven by higher operating revenue of RM279.1 million, a 3.6 per cent increase from the previous corresponding half year.
Bursa said its earnings per share had grown 15.1 sen from 14.4 sen in the previous corresponding half-year while both cost-to-income ratio and annualised return on equity (ROE) also saw improvements by two per centage points, respectively.
“Notwithstanding the various global and local events which have impacted emerging markets across the globe, Bursa Malaysia has delivered a commendable performance, achieving its highest ever half year operating revenue, and highest recorded Average Daily Trading Value (ADV) for Securities Market’s On-Market Trades (OMT) of RM2.7 billion, since listing in 2005,” said chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan.
“These results reflect our active efforts of injecting initiatives into the capital market to further stimulate long-term interest and enhance vibrancy,” he said in a statement today.
For the period under review, the company’s securities market trading revenue grew by 5.6 per cent to RM146.5 million from RM138.8 million previously.
This was driven by higher ADV for OMT, which grew by nine per cent, while non-trading revenue increased by 5.1 per cent to RM86.4 million from RM82.2 million in the previous corresponding half year, contributed by higher listing and issuer services fees and depository services fees.
Derivatives market trading revenue , owever, declined by 4.8 per cent to RM38.7 million in from RM40.7 million a year ago, due to lower number of derivatives contracts traded.
Average Daily Contracts (ADC) for the Derivatives Market was 54,794 compared to 59,818 in the first six months off 2017, representing a decrease of 8.4 per cent.
As for the Islamic Capital Market, Bursa Suq AlSila’ (BSAS) trading revenue eased 4.6 per cent to RM7.4 million mainly due to a volume-based pricing mechanism introduced in December 2016.
“As we move forward in a new Malaysia, I am confident that on the back of strong economic fundamentals and the new government’s approach towards strengthening transparency and accountability as well as the principles of good public governance, the Malaysian capital market will continue to remain resilient,” Tajuddin said.
“Given time and with greater clarity, the new policies and governance reforms will drive confidence amongst investors and businesses in the country’s economy and provide the Exchange with new growth opportunities for the future,” he added.
Bursa declared a first interim dividend of 14.0 sen per share and a special dividend of 8.0 sen per share for the ear ending December 31 2018, amounting to RM177.6 million payable on August 29.