Malaysia Business Forecast Report Q4 2014 - New Market Report

Core Views

* Malaysia's once-bloated current account surplus is coming under pressure from a combination of income account outflows and a dwindling trade surplus. We expect the narrowing of the surplus to continue, forecasting it to come in at 2.5% of GDP in 2014 and 1.6% in 2015. However, the risks are weighted to the downside, with the emergence of a current account deficit over the next few years increasingly likely.
* Over recent years Malaysia's fiscal accounts have exhibited some worrying trends, with spending rising as a share of GDP, subsidy spending rising as a share of total spending, and indirect tax revenues declining. Going forward we are optimistic that these trends will be halted as subsidy spending is reduced and a Goods & Services Tax (GST) is implemented, which should help stabilise Malaysia's debt metrics and support private sector real GDP growth.
* Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will find itself under increasing pressure to hike interest rates over the coming months as consumer price inflation (CPI) pressures mount following the reduction of fuel and electricity subsidies. However, we expect the central bank to maintain the policy rate at 3.00% amid growing disinflationary signs emanating from weakening money supply growth, which should see CPI pressures ease in H214.

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Major Forecast Changes

* We have revised down Malaysia's current account surplus for 2014 and 2015, forecasting it to come in at 2.5% of GDP in 2014 and 1.6% in 2015, rather than the 3.5% and 2.7% previously expected. Even with these revisions, the risks are weighted to the downside as the pickup in domestic investment activity and the still-wide consolidated public deficit pose risks of a current account deficit over the coming years.

Key Risks To Outlook

* Malaysia's economic outlook remains vulnerable to external shocks. This is compounded by increased public spending on welfare subsidies in recent years. We caution that the government's failure to address its fiscal...

The Malaysia Business Forecast Report helps businesses with market assessment, strategic planning and decision making to promote growth and profitability in Malaysia and is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in this emerging market.

An influential new analysis of Malaysia's economic, political and financial prospects through end-2017, just published by award-winning forecasters, Business Monitor International (BMI).

Key Uses

* Forecast the pace and stability of Malaysia's economic and industry growth through end-2017.
* Identify and evaluate adverse political and economic trends, to facilitate risk mitigation.
* Assess the critical shortcomings of the business environment that pose hidden barriers and costs to corporate profitability.

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