KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's capital market size fell to 3.1 trillion ringgit (758 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018 from its record high of 3.2 trillion ringgit in 2017 as equity market shrank, according its regulator report Thursday.

Malaysia's Securities Commission said in its annual report that equity market capitalization contracted by 10.8 percent year-on-year to 1.7 trillion ringgit last year amid challenging external developments.

Foreign investors registered a net outflow of 11.7 billion ringgit amid the challenging global environment.

Malaysia also saw lesser fundraising activities last year as its total funds raised via the capital market fell 21.8 percent year-on-year to 114.6 billion ringgit.

Its bond market, however, grew 8.8 percent year-on-year to 1.4 trillion ringgit last year.

Total capital raised through primary and secondary issuances is expected to remain robust especially in the bond market, said the regulator. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 4.09 Malaysian ringgit)