0722 GMT - Malaysia's GDP may grow by 4.5% this year, slower than the 5.1% advance estimate for 2024, OCBC senior Asean economist Lavanya Venkateswaran says in a note. Growth will likely be supported by robust domestic demand and steady, albeit moderating exports expansion, she says. Household and investment spending are projected to remain strong, while electronics exports are expected to ease, she reckons. The output gap could be largely closed in 2025, helping keep underlying inflation in check, but planned fuel subsidy reforms could stoke price pressures, she says. Headline inflation could climb to 2.7% in 2025 from an estimated 1.8% in 2024. Bank Negara is likely to stay on hold through the year but a rate hike remains possible if demand-driven inflation turns persistent, she adds. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 17, 2025 02:22 ET (07:22 GMT)
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