Institutions continued to net sell STI Banks. Telecommunications saw the highest net institutional inflow, with Singtel, NetLink NBN Trust, and Starhub ranking among the 15 most net bought stocks. Singtel has continued to book the highest net institutional inflow across the Singapore stock market in the 2025 year to date after also taking pole in 2024.
On April 7, 2025, the STI Index suffered its largest one-day drop in total return since March 2020, falling 7.5% to 3,540.50. Including DBS’s ex-dividend impact, total return declined 7.1%. Despite the downturn, institutions net bought S$153.0M in Singapore stocks, while retail investors acquired S$110.5M.
Despite the recent broad market downturn, STI REITs rebounding 5.2% over the past 5 sessions on S$50mil net institutional inflow, led by CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust and Frasers Centrepoint Trust. In contrast, STI banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB) experienced an average decline of 3.4% with S$490mil of net institutional outflow.
Within Singapore-listed mid-cap stocks with market capitalisations between S$1 billion and S$3 billion, Yangzijiang Financial, UOB Kay Hian, and Frasers Hospitality Trust saw the greatest increase in trading activity this year, while Sheng Siong, StarHub, and CapitaLand India Trust maintaining the highest ROE ratios.
SGX-listed Yangzijiang Financial, Hong Leong Finance, SingFinance, MoneyMax, Hutong Investment reported stronger earnings in FY24.
Singapore's stock market comprises nearly 150 Mid-to-Small-Cap companies with market capitalisation ranging from over S$100 million to under S$1 billion. Among the 10 most traded companies of this Mid-to-Small Cap group were four Technology Sector companies: AEM, Frencken, UMS, and CSE Global. UMS and CSE Global also ranked among the 10 Mid-to-Small Cap stocks with the highest net institutional inflow for the period, as did Valuetronics.
Strategic pivots can help companies build resilient and adaptable business models capable of weathering economic fluctuations. Apart from Seatrium, Singtel and Sembcorp are also undergoing strategic transformations. Other STI stocks executing long-term strategic transformations include CapitaLand Investment, Keppel, and more recently, Hongkong Land.
Hongkong Land has ranked Singapore’s most traded real estate stock this year. Stocks with the highest growth in turnover compared to 2024 were Tuan Sing, Wee Hur, LHN, PropNex, and Centurion. These 5 companies play significant roles in the real estate value chain, from property development and construction to space optimisation, real estate brokerage, and specialised accommodation management.
The Straits Times Index (STI) has made its most significant charge towards its October 2007 all-time high in 17 years, culminating in a new record high of 3,921.30 on February 10, surpassed its preceding high of 3,906.16. According to Bloomberg, the current 12-month consensus estimate target price (CETP) for the STI is now around 4,200.
Retail investors tend to buy stocks during weaker performances and sell during stronger performances. During the period, the non-STI stocks with the highest net retail buying included Keppel REIT, AEM Holdings, CapitaLand India Trust, CapitaLand Ascott Trust, and iFAST Corporation. Conversely, the non-STI stocks with the most net retail selling were Suntec REIT, Rex International, Japfa, ParkwayLife REIT, and CSE Global.
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