Retail investors among regulator’s priorities (By IFN)

See: http://redmoney.newsweaver.co.uk/1tyogw7nfl7h38rwoni3wx?email=true&a=6&p=22756765&t=20967645 MALAYSIA: Securities Commission Malaysia (SCM) has outlined its plans for 2012, which includes boosting retail participation in Sukuk and conventional bonds by facilitating the offering of corporate bonds to retail investors. The Malaysian regulator is also set to launch a framework for business trust to create a regional funds passport to facilitate cross-border unit trusts investments. A statement released by SCM said: “Retail investors can look forward to an expansion in product range and asset classes to cater to their investment needs. Other initiatives include improving the access of retail investors to fixed income, derivative and regional products. To facilitate retail participation in Sukuk and conventional bonds, SCM and Bursa Malaysia are working together to facilitate the offering of corporate bonds to retail investors.” The regulator also revealed its efforts to protect foreign and local issuers and investors in the private debt securities and Sukuk markets by creating tailor-made protection requirements for investors. It was also revealed that the amount of fund-raising approved by SCM in 2011 totaled to RM118.93 billion (US$38.69 billion) as at the end of 2011, compared to RM77.02 billion (US$25.5 billion) in 2010. Sukuk approvals had also more than doubled to RM78.9 billion (US$25.67 billion) from RM38.3 billion (US$12.46 billion) the year earlier. An increase in demand from global investors in private debt securities had also boosted numbers to RM15.1 billion (US$4.92 billion) at the end of 2011, compared to RM14.3 billion (US$4.65 billion) in the year before. Out of this, RM5.05 billion (US$1.64 billion) was invested in Sukuk.