KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC) has maintained a stable outlook on the domestic banking industry, premised on the banking system’s strong capital position, stabilised asset quality and sustainable earnings.
MARC chief economist Nor Zahidi Alias said the banking sector’s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) and total capital ratios of 13.3 per cent and 17.1 per cent respectively as at end-2017 provided a strong buffer to meet additional provision from the Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS) 9 requirement in 2018.
"The implementation of MFRS 9 is expected to have a modest impact of less than 100 basis points on the banks’ capital adequacy level.
"In addition, banks have the option to set-off the provision with regulatory reserves,” he said at a briefing here today.
The improvement in economic activity in 2018 bodes well for banks’ asset quality.
As business activity improves, corporate earnings and consumer income growth will also improve, supporting borrowers’ repayment capability, he said, adding that MARC expects the gross impaired loan ratio to be stable at about 1.5 per cent.
MARC believes weak consumer sentiment and banks’ cautious lending approach will keep loan growth low in 2018.
Zahidi said loan growth is expected to be between four and five per cent with credit demand driven mainly by the household segment.
While low loan growth will have a bearing on banks’ earnings growth, Zahidi said MARC observed banks are focusing on loans with higher risk-adjusted returns and growing CASA (Current Account Savings Account) deposits, which should support the banks’ earnings.
"Furthermore, stabilised asset quality will mitigate a potentially higher provision from the MFRS 9 requirement.
"MARC is not too concerned by the impact of MFRS 9 on banks’ profitability as the additional provision is due to changes in accounting policy, not a reduction in borrowers’ credit profile.
"Meanwhile, the banking system’s funding profile remains healthy, underpinned by the banks’ good access to the capital market,” he said.