KUALA LUMPUR (March 9): The Malaysian capital market grew across all segments last year, with its size expanding 2.1% to RM2.82 trillion, or equivalent to 2.5 times of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In releasing its Annual Report 2015 today, the Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) said the equity market increased 2.6% to RM1.7 trillion, from RM1.65 trillion a year ago.

Meanwhile, the bond and sukuk market registered a 1.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth to RM1.12 trillion.

SC chairman Datuk Seri Ranjit Ajit Singh said the Malaysian capital market continued to be a major source of financing with RM90 billion raised through the primarily market for the fourth consecutive year, despite the global market volatility.

"A total of RM86 billion was raised through bonds, while RM4 billion was raised via initial public offering (IPO).

"An additional of RM17 billion was raised through the second equity market," he added.

"The capital market's ability to remain resilient while maintaining public trust and investor confidence in a challenging global climate attests to the continuous efforts that have been put into strengthening its regulatory and institutional foundations," Ranjit told a press conference today.

According to him, the size of Islamic Capital Market grew 6.7% to RM1.7 trillion, against RM1.59 trillion in 2014.

"Malaysia remained as the global leader in the sukuk market, with 54.3% share of global sukuk outstanding," he added.

For the private retirement scheme (PRS), the net assets value was at RM1.2 billion within three years of establishment, while members at 180,651, a 40% increase from December 2014.