0344 GMT - Malaysian banks are poised to benefit from Johor state's economic expansion policies, with loan growth in the state outpacing the national average last year, TA Securities analyst Li Hsia Wong says in a note. Increased business activity is driving demand for corporate financing, M&A advisory and capital market transactions, while fee-based income from trade finance and treasury services is also expected to rise, she adds. Banks with a strong presence in Johor and Singapore, such as Maybank, CIMB, Hong Leong Bank and RHB Bank, are well-positioned to capitalize on cross-border financial services, she says. TA Securities maintains an overweight rating on the Malaysian banking sector, pegging Malayan Banking, CIMB Group and Public Bank as its top recommendations. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 09, 2025 22:44 ET (03:44 GMT)

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