EPF says ‘selling spree’ was nothing unusual
(The Malaysian Insider) – The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has denied any unusual activity in its recent surge in share disposals that dragged the share market down last week.
This comes after The Star reported that the EPF along with its portfolio managers “dumped” a total 83.68 million shares on the open market on March 7, or about half the total daily trading volume which pulled down the benchmark FBM KLCI.
The move by EPF also sparked market rumours that the share disposals was timed with the next general election in mind as some analysts say that profit taking usually occurs just before the polls.
Some brokers say that the reports of EPF’s selldown had dampened market sentiment with many now taking a wait and see attitude on the sidelines.
When contacted EPF said that the pension fund had sold the shares in order to lock in profit so that it can pay higher dividends.
Figures provided by EPF show that about 48 per cent of its gross investment income last year came from equities.
It also holds 35.6 per cent of its investment portfolio in equities, or about RM167 billion, as at December 2011.
Another 26.5 per cent of its portfolio is in government securities and 34.2 per cent in bonds and the two fixed income assets tend to offer lower dividends in line with the current low interest rate regime.
EPF said that in order for the pension fund to pay higher dividends, it had to look to making money on equities.
It added that it sells shares based on timing and this period with the market at a high, was the right timing and noted that the disposals worth RM441 million on March 7 was only a very small portion of its giant RM167 billion equity portfolio.
One broker said that EPF’s move appeared to be right based on hindsight given that the market has now fallen off its near all time high since March 7.
“The market is now spooked,” he said.
