SGX securities turnover soars 70% to $45.8b in May

This was driven by record participation in securities and hedging products.

SGX Group’s trading activity strengthened in May, with higher participation across equities, derivatives and commodities, and deeper engagement from both institutional and retail investors.

Securities market turnover value rose 70% year on year (YoY) to $45.8b, whilst securities daily average value increased 79% to $2.4b, the highest since October 2007, according to SGX Group (Singapore Exchange).

Derivatives volume rose 20% YoY to 30.5 million contracts, whilst daily average volume increased 27% to 1.6 million contracts, the third-highest on record.

The exchange said activity reflected broader participation across asset classes, supported by sustained equity inflows and stronger hedging demand.

The Straits Times Index rose 3.5% month on month (MoM) and reached a record 5,072 on 19 May.

STI-linked ETFs saw net inflows for a 15th consecutive month, totalling $129m in May and $687m year-to-date.

Small- and mid-cap stocks excluding REITs recorded stronger turnover momentum, with securities daily average value up 24% MoM and more than four times higher YoY.

Institutional investors remained net buyers for a fifth straight month, with cumulative inflows above $800m over the past year.

Retail participation also strengthened, with retail securities daily average value rising 11% MoM to a 13-year high.

Retail investors recorded more than $1.5b in net inflows in the first five months of the year.

On listings and capital raising, SGX said activity remained steady.

JustCo Holdings Ltd listed on the Mainboard on 22 May, whilst Lum Chang Creations Ltd, CNMC Goldmine Holdings Ltd and Koh Brothers Eco Engineering Ltd announced transfers to the Mainboard. Secondary placements by Hong Leong Asia Ltd and Aspial Lifestyle Ltd raised $316m.

Derivatives tied to India equities saw continued activity, with GIFT Nifty 50 Index futures and options daily average volume rising 6% MoM to 112,894 contracts and open interest up 12% to a record 290,377 contracts.

FX futures volume rose 29.6% YoY to 505,864 contracts ($29b notional), with open interest up 18.9% to 544,651 contracts ($31.5b notional), supported by active hedging in Asian currencies. Commodity derivatives volume rose 4.7% YoY, led by iron ore, freight and rubber contracts, whilst forward freight agreements hit a record 2,568 contracts.