SGX securities turnover rises 70% in May

Singapore’s stock market became Southeast Asia’s largest by market capitalisation, according to SGX.

SGX Group reported stronger trading activity in May, supported by sustained investor participation across securities, derivatives, foreign exchange, and commodities.

Securities market turnover value rose 70% YoY to $45.8b.

Securities' daily average value increased 79% YoY to S$2.4b, the highest since October 2007.

Derivatives traded volume grew 20% YoY to 30.5 million contracts, whilst derivatives daily average volume rose 27% to 1.6 million contracts, the third-largest on record.

The Straits Times Index advanced 3.5% MoM in May and reached an all-time high of 5,072 on 19 May, supported by gains in banking and technology stocks.

STI exchange-traded funds recorded their 15th consecutive month of net inflows, with $129m in May and $687m year-to-date.

Momentum in small- and mid-cap stocks excluding REITs also strengthened, with securities' daily average value up 24% MoM and more than four times higher YoY.

Institutional investors were net buyers of small- and mid-cap stocks for a fifth consecutive month, bringing inflows over the past 12 months to more than $800m.

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

Retail investors recorded cumulative net inflows of more than $1.5b in the first five months of 2026.

Capital-raising activity also picked up, with JustCo Holdings listing on the Mainboard on 22 May.

Lum Chang Creations, CNMC Goldmine Holdings, and Koh Brothers Eco Engineering also announced transfers from Catalist to the Mainboard.

Secondary placements by non-REIT issuers, including Hong Leong Asia and Aspial Lifestyle, raised a combined $316m.

In derivatives, GIFT Nifty 50 Index Futures and Options daily average volume rose 6% month-on-month to 112,894 contracts, whilst open interest reached a record 290,377 contracts.

Daily average volume across SGX-listed FX futures rose 29.6% YoY to 505,864 lots.

SGX Commodities' daily average volume rose 4.7% YoY, supported by iron ore contracts, forward freight agreements, and SICOM rubber derivatives.

Container forward freight agreement volumes reached a new high of 2,568 contracts.

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