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Written by Irhamy Ahmad, Founder and Managing Director of Irhamy Valuers International Malaysia’s industrial property market is accelerating as the automotive sector expands through rising domestic production and substantial foreign investment. Selangor remains the country’s most established hub due to its strategic access to Port Klang, while large-scale industrial growth is taking shape in Perak’s Automotive High-Technology Valley (AHTV). Recent market data demonstrates this momentum clearly. Shah Alam industrial land now averages RM451 per square foot, with premium zones such as Shah Alam Technology Park reaching RM537 per square foot and recording more than 16 percent annual appreciation. Figure 1: Malaysia’s Key Automotive Manufacturing HubsAt the same time, Tanjung Malim is emerging as a fast-rising greenfield market, offering prices between RM15 and RM55 per square foot as investor demand increases. The National Industry Master Plan 2030 has further intensified this growth, with new entrants strengthening Malaysia’s position as an automotive hub. BYD has confirmed a major CKD plant in Tanjung Malim, and both MG and Wuling are also beginning local assembly operations. This investment wave is creating a clear structural trend. Mature industrial hubs maintain high premiums due to logistics advantages and limited land, while emerging regions like AHTV are gaining value from scalability and long-term development potential. Together, these forces highlight how automotive momentum is directly translating into significant capital appreciation in Malaysia’s industrial land market. Discover more here:Download

Written by Shan Saeed, IQI Chief EconomistCentral banks have got the limelight again. Since 2008, global central banks have taken sole responsibility in delivering economic outcomes, not out of choice but nobody else is taking the responsibility.  Global Broad Money Supply (2000–Q3 2025).Global broad money supply* rose to $142 trillion in September 2025, up from$26 trillion in 2000, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%. Growth accelerated notably in 2025, increasing 9.1% year-to-date and 6.7% year-on-year in September,  significantly boosted by the U.S. dollar’s 9.9% depreciation. China accounted for the largest share at $47.1 trillion (33.1%), followed by the European Union ($22.3 trillion, 15.7%), the United States ($22.2 trillion, 15.6%), Japan ($11.0 trillion, 7.7%), and the United Kingdom ($5.0 trillion, 3.5%), together comprising three-quarters of global liquidity. Between February 2020 and February 2022, money supply jumped 25%, before leveling off around $125 trillion through 2022 and 2023. From 2021 to 2024, growth slowed to a muted 1.4% CAGR, pulling the 2019–2024 rate down to 5.3%, below the long-term trend.  Data covers 169 countries and territories, representing 99% of global GDP. All figures are converted to U.S. dollars.  1970 ERA IS BACK IN STYLE. TANGIBLE ASSETS ARE IN VOGUE.  Bank of America analysts reiterated their "long gold" recommendation, predicting that gold prices will peak at $6,000 per ounce by mid-2026.Meanwhile, Wall Street has been raising its gold price targets. Goldman Sachs expects gold prices to reach $4,900 per troy ounce by the end of next year, up from its previous forecast of $4,300. JPMorgan analysts said gold prices could reach $6,000 per ounce by 2029.CHINESE INVESTORS ARE HEADING FOR DUBAI.  According to the Financial Times, Chinese investors are heading for Dubai. Discover more here:Download

Written by Hamid R. Azarmi, Head of Business DevelopmentAs 2025 comes to an end, the global economy shows signs of stabilisation with the IMF projecting 2.8 percent global growth, reflecting easing inflation and the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2026.While growth has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, markets have benefited from policy consistency and improving macroeconomic conditions. Investors have repositioned portfolios by moving toward higher-quality assets, extending fixed income duration, and focusing on resilient sectors, including infrastructure, energy transition, and income-generating alternatives.Structural challenges remain, such as elevated government debt and widening geopolitical tensions, but the overall environment has shifted toward cautious confidence. A defining theme of 2025 has been the rapid rise of artificial intelligence as a transformative force in global markets. Nvidia becoming the world’s most valuable public company highlights the extraordinary surge in demand for AI infrastructure, with data centre revenues expanding by more than 400 percent in some quarters.Yet investors must remain vigilant amid geopolitical uncertainty and climate-related risks. Those who embrace technology, strategic diversification, and long-term planning will be best positioned to navigate a slower but more opportunity-rich global landscape.  Discover more here:Download

Version: CN, BMInvesting in Malaysia has changed rapidly over the past few years, with inflation, global market shifts and rising living costs reshaping how Malaysians grow and protect their money. Whether you are just starting or planning to diversify, understanding the main investment types in 2026 can help you make smarter, more confident financial decisions.Key Takeaways: A balanced portfolio works better than relying on one investment alone.Inflation impacts returns, especially for low-risk options like fixed deposits.Global diversification is now an important strategy for Malaysian investors.Always consider liquidity, costs and your investment time horizon.5 Popular Investments Types in Malaysia1. Fixed Deposit2. Stocks3. Funds4. Gold5. Real Estate1. Fixed DepositOne of the most popular investment choices in Malaysia is the Fixed Deposit (FD).With a fixed deposit, the bank and the depositor agree in advance on the tenure and interest rate. At maturity, the depositor can choose to withdraw the principal and interest, or renew the deposit.Generally, the longer the FD tenure, the higher the interest rate offered.When choosing where to place your FD, it’s a good idea to compare the interest rates offered by different banks and select the one that provides the best value.Usually, FD rates are based on a minimum deposit of RM5,000 with a tenure of 1 year.However, one disadvantage is that the returns on fixed deposits are often lower than the inflation rate.ProsConsCapital is safe and easily accessibleReturns may not keep up with inflationMinimal volatility, stable short-term optionOpportunity cost compared to higher-performing assetsSimple and low maintenanceNot suitable as a long-term wealth-building tool2. StocksWhen it comes to stocks, many people think they are profitable but also too risky.In most cases, this impression is true: stocks are an investment that can offer high returns but also come with high risks.The profit or loss of a stock largely depends on the company’s business performance.When you invest in Company A’s stock, it means you own a portion of that company.If Company A performs well, its stock price may rise, allowing you to gain capital appreciation, and you may also receive dividend income.However, the stock market is full of uncertainty.For example, looking at the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (KLSE Index), the market dropped by 24.77% in August 1998, and once again plunged by 15.22% in 2008.Because of this volatility, many people both love and fear stock investments. If you want to invest in stocks, you may consider seeking help from professionals to analyse your portfolio and of serious losses.ProsConsHigh growth potential over the long termHigh volatility in the short termAccess to global markets and sectorsCurrency and geopolitical risks for foreign equitiesFlexible investment entry pointsRequires some risk tolerance3. FundsFunds are roughly divided into stock funds and currency funds. Equity funds are very similar to stocks in some respects. Fund managers combine a pile of stocks and then sell them to investors in small parts.In other words, if you invest in a fund, you are buying part of a pile of stocks. Let's take a closer look at one of the most popular investments in Malaysia: The stock fund will be divided into:Active funds: Actively managed funds, does not deliberately make indexed investments and aim to exceed market benchmarks. After the fund manager has raised all funds, he invests in his favourite stocks, bonds, etc., in the hope of obtaining funds that exceed market benchmarks.Passive funds: Does not actively seek out the performance of the market but tries to replicate the performance of the index. Since passive funds select specific indexes as tracking objects, they are usually referred to as index funds.In addition, passive funds are also divided into two types:Fully Replication Index Funds: all assets are invested in the constituent stocks of the index being tracked, and the market index is wholly tracked.Enhanced-Index Fund (EIF): On the basis of fully tracking the index, appropriate adjustments are made according to the specific market conditions to obtain returns that exceed the tracking index.As for currency funds, they are more stable than stock funds and have lower risks. It is a kind of trust fund that mainly invests in short-term bank deposits, bank time deposit certificates, commercial papers, corporate bonds, and other investment tools.In terms of interest, the currency fund will change with the market interest, so the interest is calculated daily. Investors will get high returns with high market interest, but the average annual returns are above 3%.ProsConsBroad diversification across many assetsManagement fees can reduce returnsSuitable for beginners and low-effort investorsPerformance depends on market conditionsAccessible through small monthly contributionsSome funds may underperform benchmarks4. GoldFrom a financial standpoint, gold carries the dual characteristics of both a commodity and a currency asset. It functions as a form of commodity money and serves as an effective hedge against inflation.When paper currency depreciates due to inflation, gold becomes a tool for preserving value, which is why many people invest in gold to diversify their investment risks. According to the World Gold Council, gold is relatively unaffected by business cycles. Its lower volatility allows it to withstand financial crises better than many other investment assets.For this reason, many people choose to invest in gold, as it is easy to store and tends to maintain its value. However, its ability to preserve value still depends on the economic cycle.For example, if you bought gold for USD 36.56 in 1970 and its price rose to USD 664.30 in 1980, that would be an increase of about 17 times in 10 years, with an average annual growth rate of around 30%.However, gold prices also experience sudden rises and drops, so timing matters.You might think gold is always a reliable store of value. But if you had purchased gold at USD 664.30 in 1980 and its price dropped 61% over the years to USD 256.69 in 1999, you would have suffered a significant loss.ProsConsHedge against volatility and currency fluctuationsCan be volatile in certain periodsHistorically preserves valueNo dividends or passive incomeUseful as a small portion of a diversified portfolioPhysical gold incurs storage and security costs 5. Real EstateA list of the most popular investments in Malaysia wouldn’t be complete without real estate.Property values generally increase year by year due to population growth and limited land availability.Because of this, many people believe that property prices will continue to rise over the long term, making real estate one of the most stable and reliable investment options.While Malaysian property prices are not as high as those in major Asian cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, or Tokyo, Malaysia still ranks among the top 10 countries globally for housing price growth and the highest in Asia.Partly due to parental expectations and government incentives, many young Malaysians see property as their first investment goal. Industry trends and economic data have also contributed to a rise in homeownership across the country.Besides buying a home for personal use, those with stronger financial capability often purchase additional properties for investment purposes, such as renting them out. Rental income can help cover monthly commitments and maintenance costs.As mentioned, real estate typically appreciates in value over time. So if the property is sold years later, the price is often higher than the original purchase price, creating additional profit for the owner.ProsConsLong-term appreciation in the right locationsOversupply and weaker yields in some areasRental income potentialHigh upfront and ongoing costsTangible asset with utility for own stayLow liquidity and longer holding period requiredThere is no single best investment, only the best mix for your goals and risk appetite. As Malaysia’s financial landscape continues to evolve, staying informed and diversifying wisely will help you build resilience and long-term growth.Whether you are starting small or expanding your portfolio, understanding these five core asset classes is a strong foundation for smart investing in 2026.Ready to make real estate your next investment? Share your details in the form, and we’ll help you maximize your returns.[custom_blog_form]Continue Reading: Best Housing Loan Rates to Secure (Updated Monthly)Malaysia’s 2026 Outlook: Roadmap for Economic and Property Stability7 Facts About Bank Drafts & How To Apply For It!