Malaysia’s leading index rises 2.2 per cent in August
Real semiconductor imports increased 18.7 per cent, while weaker housing approvals held back overall growth.
Malaysia’s leading index reached 115.9 points in August, a year-on-year gain of 2.2 per cent, according to the Statistics Department. An 18.7 per cent rise in real semiconductor imports was the main driver.
Weaker results from several components, notably housing unit approvals, limited the increase. Compared with the previous month, the index advanced 0.2 per cent, with new company registrations contributing 0.7 per cent.
The department said the leading index’s long-term trend moved above its trend level, reaching 100.2 points in August, indicating continued prospects for economic expansion. It cited positive national growth projections, recovering export-oriented industries and sustained worldwide semiconductor demand, particularly for artificial intelligence and technology investment.
The coincident index, a measure of current economic performance, climbed 1.9 per cent from a year earlier to 131.4 points, compared with 128.9 points previously. Real contributions to the Employees Provident Fund rose 9.9 per cent, driving the annual gain.
On a monthly comparison, however, the coincident index slipped 0.1 per cent following a 0.2 per cent fall in manufacturing capacity utilisation.
