PNB remains optimistic about the outlook for Malaysia's economy and local bourse next year, underpinned by clear economic policies and steady inflows of foreign direct investments (FDIs). President and group chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad said the policies such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap and the National Semiconductor Strategy have been well received, bolstering investor confidence.
He also noted that the country is currently experiencing a third wave of investment upcycle, which was contributed greatly by FDI inflow. 'The combination of well-received economic policies, strong FDI inflows driven by electrical and electronics sector data centres, and robust domestic direct investments indicates real activity on the ground. 'This positive trend reflects the close relationship between the economy and the stock market. I believe that the momentum we have in 2024 will continue in 2025,' he said during an editors' briefing at Menara 118. Currently, 77 per cent of PNB’s assets are invested domestically, with 60 per cent of that allocation in the public equity market, mainly in the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLCI), Abdul Rahman said. 'One potential risk is that while the Malaysian economy performs well, this has not yet translated into better earnings or performance for corporate Malaysia,” he added when asked about concerns that can derail the projection next year.'Sapura Energy’s debt restructuring scheme has been extended to March 2025, and completing this process is vital for stabilising its operations,” he said, adding that PNB is not currently pursuing M&A activities in the oil and gas sector., where PNB holds a 54 per cent stake, Abdul Rahman declined to comment further, noting that discussions regarding potential divestment are ongoin