Malaysia is currently leading the region's IPO market, with increasing participation from both institutional and retail investors, reflecting growing interest in capital markets.

As of Dec 11, the bourse market has seen a total of 49 listings compared to 32 listings last year. The number of companies going public is also the highest since 2006, surpassing Bursa Malaysia's initial target of 42.

Out of the 49 listings, ACE Market saw the most numbers of companies going public with 36 of them, followed by 10 in the Main Market and three in the LEAP Market.

In terms of value, the IPO markets have raised a total of RM7.19 billion with market capitalisation reaching RM43.04 billion as of Dec 11, 2024.

From that figure, the Main Market has raised RM4.89 billion with a total market capitalisation of RM31.23 billion. The  $99SMART (5326.MY)$, which got listed on Sept 9, 2024, led the Main Market in both amount raised and market capitalisation with RM2.36 billion and RM21.08 billion. This was followed by $JPG (5323.MY)$ which managed to raise RM735 million for its IPO and its market capitalisation as of Dec 11 was RM3.28 billion. Other top five companies in the Main Market in terms of market capitalisation were $KEYFIELD (5321.MY)$ (RM1.71 billion), $PLINTAS (5320.MY)$ (RM1.06 billion) and $WELLCHIP (5325.MY)$ (RM750 million).

Meanwhile, the top five companies in the ACE Market according to the closing market capitalisation on Dec 11 were $ALPHA (0303.MY)$ Bhd with a market capitalisation of RM1.65 billion, followed by $MTEC (0295.MY)$ (RM1.22 billion), $ELRIDGE (0318.MY)$ (RM850 million), $GOHUB (0311.MY)$ (560 million) and $KJTS (0293.MY)$ (RM553.84 million).

For the LEAP Market, $AUTORIS (03059.MY)$ raised the most amount for its IPO with RM7.8 million and its market capitalisation as of Dec 11 was RM186.05 million, followed by $DYNAMIC (03058.MY)$ which managed to raise RM5 million for its IPO with a market capitalisation of RM68.75 million. $TPTEC (03061.MY)$ which got listed on Dec 11 managed to raise RM2.5 for its IPO and it has a market capitalisation of RM32.5 million.

As for next year's IPO target, Bursa's Chief Executive Officer Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift said Bursa Malaysia is targeting to list 50 IPOs for next year, resurrecting the high level of public participation seen 20 years ago.

"The 50 IPO listing target, if achieved, would be the highest on record since 2005," Muhamad Umar said as reported by Nikkei Asia on Nov 4.