KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has been named the country’s top overall bond issuer in the fourth quarter of 2023 (4Q2023), according to Bond Pricing Agency Malaysia Sdn Bhd (BPAM).

In a statement, BPAM’s Bond League Tables report for 4Q2023, which highlights the performance of the Malaysian bond market and the rankings of key market players, showed that the central bank issued RM64 billion worth of bonds in the three months ended Dec 31 last year.

This makes it the second straight quarter in which BNM topped the list this year, following its RM74.5 billion worth of issuances in 3Q2023.

Cagamas Bhd was the biggest corporate bond and sukuk issuer in 4Q2023. It issued RM2.13 billion worth of corporate bonds and raised RM5.96 billion from sukuk during the quarter.

The Malaysian government’s bonds were the top traded bond overall, with a total traded value of RM182.59 billion.  

Cagamas’ debt papers was the most traded corporate bond in 4Q2023, worth a total of RM1.04 billion, while the top traded sukuk were those issued by DanaInfra Nasional Bhd, valued at RM6.71 billion.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Trustees Bhd was named top bond trustee overall by value (RM48.58 billion) and by issuance (107 issues). It was also the top sukuk trustee by value, worth RM46.25 billion.

PB Trustee Services Bhd was ranked the top conventional bond trustee by value (RM2.67 billion).

CIMB Investment Bank Bhd was named the top lead arranger overall, having handled a total value of RM13.75 billion.

In terms of number of issuances, Maybank Investment Bank Bhd was top, having handled 122 issues during the quarter under review.