5 facts about BNM's Annual Report, Financial Stability and Payment Systems 2016

Bank Negara Malaysia today released the 2016 Annua Report, Financial Stability and Payment Systems report.

Following are the five things you need to know:

1.The Malaysian economy is expected to expand by 4.3% to 4.8% in 2017 driven by private domestic demand and improvement of external trade.

2. Private consumption to remain supported by continued employment and income growth.

The Governor said in 2016, 112 000 jobs were created in the jobs sector.

3. Ringgit exchange rate has stabilised in 2017 driven by measures announced by FMC in December 2016.

According to BNM Governor, Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim, the Ringgit declined 13 per cent between April 2016 and December 2016 influenced by Brexit, the U.S. Presidential Election and global oil prices.

4. Higher average headline inflation in 2017 is expected to increase between 3 per cent and 4 per cent dependent on future trend in global oil prices.

Muhammad added that headline inflation will be relatively high in the first half of 2017 before moderating thereafter.

5. Housing affordability remains low amid slow pace of new supply in affordable segment.

He also emphasised that access to financing is not the issue in housing affordability. Instead house prices are highly unaffordable.

He added that supply of affordable housing at appropriate and strategic locations has to be accelerated.