Malaysia's economy grows 4.5% y-o-y in Q4, matches forecasts

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's economy grew 4.5 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, central bank data showed on Thursday, as a year of tepid growth ended on a stronger note helped by solid exports.

Growth was in line with a median forecast of 4.5 per cent in a Reuters poll, and better than the 4.3 per cent pace posted in the third quarter.

The full-year 2016 growth rate was reported as 4.2 per cent, compared with 5 per cent in 2015.

Fourth-quarter growth was supported by domestic demand, the central bank said.

Malaysia's central bank also said on Thursday that the current account surplus widened to RM12.2 billion (S$3.89 billion) in the fourth quarter, from RM6 billion in the third quarter.

REUTERS