SGX Healthcare Index rose 6% in 2018

Amongst top performers were Top Glove, Tianjin Zhong Xin Pharmaceutical, Haw Par, and IHH Healthcare.

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) All Healthcare Index gained 6.0% in 2018, an announcement revealed. With this, average annualised total return over the past five years grew 7.3% which is higher compared to 4.1% in the case of the Straits Times Index (STI).

SGX said that the healthcare sector is also the strongest of the Sectors in Singapore in June 2018 since it was one of the two sectors that had booked inflow for each of the three preceding months of March through May despite its $400,000 net institutional outflow in June.

"Within the stock market, healthcare providers are typically known to be a defensive segment,” SGX explained. “However, the landscape of burgeoning demand and comparatively lagged supply of equipment and services in South East Asia provides a significant growth connection.”

Biggest healthcare stocks include Top Glove, Tianjin Zhong Xin Pharmaceutical, Haw Par, and IHH Healthcare.