[SINGAPORE] To maintain the momentum of the recent uplift in local equities, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) will focus on expanding its product offerings and advancing ecosystem-wide initiatives. This, said chief executive officer Loh Boon Chye, will help “turn this buoyancy into long-term growth”.
Speaking during the bourse operator’s annual general meeting on Thursday (Oct 9), he noted that in addition to its ongoing efforts, the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s equity market review measures have provided a “strong tailwind” that further boosts liquidity in the market.
Through coordinated efforts such as the Equity Market Development Programme, Loh pointed out that institutional capital is being directed into Singapore equities, increasing investor interest and broadening participation beyond large-cap stocks.
He acknowledged that the review group’s efforts have supported the equity market uplift, but stressed that this is “only the beginning”, adding that “what matters is sustaining this momentum”.
He also indicated that SGX expects more initial public offerings (IPOs) for the remainder of the year, with four companies – Soon Hock Enterprise, Coliwoo, Leong Guan and Infinity Development – filing preliminary documents for their IPOs over the past two weeks.
Loh further noted that the bourse had seen nine new listings in the first quarter of FY2026 ending Jun 30 next year.
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These included NTT DC Reit, Centurion Accommodation Reit and Info-Tech Systems on the mainboard, as well as MetaOptics, Lum Chang Creations and Dezign Format Group on the Catalist board.
Additionally, China Medical System and AvePoint had secondary listings on the mainboard, while Skylink listed via a reverse takeover on the Catalist board.
“Retail participation in our new listings has trended above the market average, which shows the growing traction and interest that our new listings are generating among retail investors,” said Loh.
Looking ahead, he noted that SGX is expanding its product range to meet investor demand, including plans to extend Singapore Depository Receipts into new markets and exploring more novel types of products that it plans to launch in the near term.
The bourse is also strengthening its distribution channels to better support partners such as remisiers and brokers, he added.
He highlighted that remisiers now have the opportunity to enhance their capabilities through digital engagement tools and advanced analytics, enabling them to better serve retail clients
This is made possible through the Remisier Development Programme, which was launched by the Society of Remisiers (Singapore) and the Securities Association of Singapore in September 2024.
The programme offers training courses in areas such as artificial intelligence, portfolio customisation and digital marketing. It aims to elevate the remisier profession while complementing broader initiatives to develop the local equities market.
Loh highlighted that SGX is also partnering brokers through large-scale events to enhance investor outreach and raise awareness of the diverse instruments available on its platform.
It is also supporting investors by helping them navigate and track different segments of the Singapore market, extending beyond just large-cap stocks, such as the newly launched iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index.
“Together with brokers, remisiers, listed companies and investors, our ecosystem-wide approach is improving our distribution channels for investors,” said Loh.
