Published in The Business Times on 20 November, 2018 By Mak Yuen Teen IN AUGUST, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued the fourth edition of the Code of Corporate Governance for Singapore, after an extensive consultation of changes proposed by the Corporate Governance Council (CGC). Since the Code was first introduced in 2001, there has been a continual enhancement in standards in areas such as board composition, risk management, and engagement with shareholders and stakeholders. Whether there has been an overall improvement in substance is more debatable. For this latest review, certain core corporate governance guidelines have been hard-coded in the listing rules. The “comply or explain” approach has been enhanced not only by making compliance with the principles m

In Singapore, bonds are an important asset class that allows investors to diversify from having just stocks or properties in their portfolio. Typically, there are two main types of bonds we can invest in – government bonds and corporate bonds. Read Also: Step-By-Step Guide To Bond Investing In Singapore In this article, we will delve further into how to go about investing in corporate bonds in particular. What Are Corporate Bonds? When we invest in corporate bonds, we are lending our money to companies in exchange for an interest payment. Typically, the riskier the company, the higher the interest it has to pay to attract investors. This is also why bonds issued by the Singapore government, namely the Singapore Government Securities (SGS) bonds and Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB), pay out