13/01/2026

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TUESDAY | JAN 13, 2026

Affin Hwang, Cboe team up to offer access to VIX Futures o First local investment bank to introduce volatility-linked derivative to Malaysian investors Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

Bursa Malaysia rolls out indices that track financially strong companies PETALI N G JAYA: Bursa Malaysia yesterday launched the Bursa Malaysia Quality 50 Index (BMQ) and the Bursa Malaysia Quality 50 Shariah Index (BMQ-S), the exchange’s first in-house indices that are based on financial performance. Unlike headline benchmarks that mainly track companies based on market capitalisation, the BMQ and the BMQ-S profile listed companies demonstrate comparatively strong financial characteristics across profitability, capital structure and earnings quality. These factors are measured through return on equity, debt-to-equity and operating cash flow relative to profit after tax and minority interests. Each index comprises 50 companies from the Main Market and the ACE Market that are not part of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index, the market’s primary headline benchmark is where a large share of market capitalisation and investor focus is concentrated. Bursa Malaysia CEO Datuk Fad’l Mohamed said:“The launch of the Bursa Malaysia Quality 50 Index and the Bursa Malaysia Quality 50 Shariah Index marks a significant milestone in our index innovation journey. We are seeing financially resilient companies emerging across sectors, including technology companies which make up almost 18% of both BMQ and BMQ-S. These indexes provide reference points that reflect this broader growth landscape, ensuring that Malaysian companies with strong fundamentals are visible and accessible to investors, whilst also supporting broader participation in Malaysia’s equity market.” Both BMQ and BMQ-S use the same index construction framework, with BMQ-S com prising only securities recognised as syariah compliant by the Shariah Advisory Council of the Securities Commission Malaysia. To ensure the indices reflect companies that are suitable for benchmarking and investment reference, selected companies must meet minimum requirements in terms of size and trading activity. The exchange said the indices will be reviewed twice a year to ensure they continue to reflect current market conditions and company performance. Index values and constituent information will be available on Bursa Malaysia’s website.

KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd has partnered with Cboe Global Markets Inc to introduce access to VIX Futures – standardised, cash-settled contracts that track the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX). The VIX Futures launch is expected to be followed by the introduction of volatility options later this year. Affin Hwang CEO Hanif Ghulam Mohammed said it is the first local invest ment bank to offer clients exposure to a volatility-linked derivative amid heightened uncertainty in the global markets. “This proposition extends beyond active traders. It reaches premier clients, corporates and treasury desks,” he said at the launch yesterday. Hanif Ghulam said the investment bank aims to expand its client base by attracting new-to-bank and new-to-product investors, while cross-selling volatility solutions across its futures and equities platforms to deepen client relationships and increase share of wallet. Affin Hwang is deliberately positioning volatility as a core risk-management tool rather than a short-term trading product, a shift away from purely directional investing as markets become less predictable, he added. “VIX Futures allow investors to hedge tail risks, diversify portfolios and execute event driven strategies around key macroeconomic and geopolitical milestones. In short, they provide clarity and control when markets are uncertain.” Hanif Ghulam said the approach will be education-led and retail-focused aimed at positioning volatility as a key risk-manage ment tool rather than simply tracking US market trends. “This strategy does two things – it creates attention in a crowded market and it opens meaningful conversations about risk, conversations that lead to deeper engage ment across our futures suite.” Regulators share the same ambition in

Hanif Ghulam speaking at the launch of VIX Futures.

VIX Futures, which are listed on the Cboe Futures Exchange, track expected market volatility and typically rise during periods of market stress, offering an alternative to traditional strategies focused on asset price movements. Cboe Global Markets head of Asia-Pacific derivatives sales Sharon Ang said VIX Futures have long been used globally as a tool for managing risk and expressing market views. “Through our collaboration with Affin Hwang, we are pleased to introduce VIX Futures to the Malaysian market through an investment bank for the first time, supporting the continued growth of the region’s derivatives ecosystem.”

terms of deepening the market liquidity and expanding the scope of investment for our Malaysian investors, Hanif Ghulam said. “Their support is very encouraging and we look forward to work together with the regulators to expand the tools available for our clients.” Futures and proprietary trading director Kelvin Ho Jern Yang said the bank currently has fewer than 1,000 active futures clients, compared with several hundred thousand equity investors. “That is where we can leverage our existing equity client base. If more equity clients participate in futures, there is significant growth potential,” he said.

TalentCorp, YP in pact to develop Bumiputera digital, industry-driven talent PETALI N G JAYA: Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp) and Yayasan Peneraju (YP) yesterday formalised a memorandum of under standing (MoU) to strengthen the development of Bumiputera talent for Malaysia’s digital and high-growth industries, in support of the Ministry of Human Resources’ national work force agenda. In 2025, an initial TalentCorp-YP collaboration trained and placed 159 Bumiputera participants into employ ment through industry-driven path ways, with starting salaries of up to RM5,000, demonstrating the effec tiveness of a model that prioritises employability and job matching over training alone. “The collaboration between cularly in digital and technology driven sectors where Malaysia must remain competitive.” Yayasan Peneraju CEO Ibrahim Sani said the partnership strengthens YP’s mandate to build Bumiputera capabilities that support long-term economic participation.

“Working with TalentCorp allows us to integrate funding, skills de velopment and employer engage ment in one outcomes-driven pipeline where training leads to meaningful and sustainable career progression,” he added. Under the MoU, both parties will also collaborate on research, thought leadership and skills intelligence, sup ported by joint governance structures to oversee programme delivery, out come tracking and continuous im provement.

TalentCorp and Yayasan Peneraju reflects a deliberate shift towards quality, relevance and outcomes in talent development,” said TalentCorp Group CEO Edward Ling. “As Kesuma’s strategic think tank, TalentCorp’s role is to connect skills intelligence, employer engagement and workforce activation. Through platforms such as MyMahir, we work to ensure that skills programmes are aligned with industry demand, parti

The MoU establishes a multi-year strategic collaboration to jointly design, implement and scale industry driven talent development pro grammes, with a focus on digital, artificial intelligence (AI), technical and professional sectors. The collaboration is aligned with national priorities including the Madani Economy and the industry-driven MyMahir-National AI Council for Industry led by TalentCorp and MyDigital.

From left: Yayasan Peneraju executive vice-president (operations) Kama Bistari Muhammad, Ibrahim, Ling and TalentCorp COO Siva Kumeren A. Narayanan.