Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 17 August 2026 – Malaysia’s stronger-than-expected second-quarter performance has prompted Hong Leong Investment Bank to raise its full-year 2026 growth forecast to 5.3 per cent from 4.7 per cent, placing the new estimate above Bank Negara Malaysia’s official 4 to 5 per cent range.
Real gross domestic product expanded 6.0 per cent year on year in the second quarter, exceeding the bank’s 5.9 per cent forecast and the 5.8 per cent advance estimate and consensus view. First-half growth reached 5.7 per cent, while seasonally adjusted output rebounded 2.5 per cent from the previous quarter after a marginal 0.03 per cent contraction in the first three months.
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