{
  "id": 3846597,
  "title": "Maybank keeps FY26 targets intact despite external headwinds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/maybank-keeps-fy26-targets-intact-despite-external-headwinds",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-28T00:00:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/08/1520313/maybank-keeps-fy26-targets-intact-despite-external-headwinds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Maybank maintains its FY26 targets despite global challenges. The bank reported higher second-quarter earnings of RM2.69 billion, amid persisting external headwinds such as the Middle East conflict. President and group CEO Khairussaleh Ramli stated that domestic economic resilience has helped borrowers cope better than expected. He emphasized that Malaysia's open economy, characterized by significant import-export activities and foreign investments, would continue to expose Maybank to global market fluctuations. Despite these, Maybank aims to retain its full-year guidance of a minimum return on equity (ROE) of 11.8 percent, loan growth of 4-5 percent, and a cost-to-income ratio of around 49 percent. The bank is prepared to offer restructuring assistance to borrowers facing cash flow disruptions due to the conflict, but the current impact has been less severe than anticipated. Maybank sees potential growth opportunities in Malaysia's expanding investment market, even with a reduced weighting in the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI index. Additionally, the company is leveraging AI to enhance efficiency in compliance, risk management, and other processes, anticipating efficiency gains of 20-60 percent in selected areas.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) is keeping its financial year 2026 (FY26) targets intact after posting higher second-quarter earnings of RM2.69 billion, even as external headwinds persist.",
  "key_points": [
    "Maybank maintains FY26 targets despite global challenges",
    "Higher Q2 earnings of RM2.69 billion amid conflict",
    "President cites Malaysia's open economy resilience"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Maybank's decision to retain its FY26 targets signals confidence that domestic economic resilience will continue to cushion the bank against global market fluctuations and external headwinds.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}