Malaysia’s energy-exporter status supports sovereign bonds’ appeal, analysts say
Malaysia’s position as a net energy exporter is supporting the appeal of its sovereign debt, analysts say. A Bloomberg index of Malaysian sovereign bond returns has gained 0.2% this year, outperforming Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Maybank Securities’ head of fixed-income research, Winson Phoon, said Malaysian bonds are better positioned than Southeast Asian peers if oil prices remain elevated, citing energy and electronics exports as support for the country’s fiscal and current-account positions.