The Singapore Exchange (SGX) reported on Feb 9, that the total securities market value for January came in at $29.7 billion over 20 trading days.

This was 16% higher than the total market value of $25.6 billion in January 2020 over 21 trading days.

M-o-m, the total market value rose 21.8% from the $24.4 billion posted in December 2020 over 22 trading days.

In cash equities, securities daily average value (SDAV) climbed 22% y-o-y to $1.5 billion.

The higher figures were attributable to the active trades in SGX-listed medical suppliers, with the iEdge SG All Healthcare Index generating a 4% return during the month amid the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.

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Manufacturing stocks also contributed strongly to turnover. Singapore’s three newest Mainboard-listed stocks – GHY Culture & Media Holding, Credit Bureau Asia and Nanofilm Technologies International – ranked among the most active in January.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) was up 2.1% month-on-month (m-o-m) at 2,902.52.

SEE: SGX August securities daily value up 12% to $1.2 bil on heightened volatility

The market turnover value of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) surged 112% y-o-y to $557 million. Of these, equity ETFs grew the most, more than tripling in amount during the month.

The four ETFs that listed in 2020 had a combined trading turnover of S$84 million in January, or 15% of total ETF turnover on the exchange.

In January, there were 74 new bond listings, the highest since February 2020.

Total funds raised from equity fundraisings and amounts issued from bond listings reached $40 billion in January, up 56% m-o-m to the highest amount since September 2020.

Total derivatives traded volume on SGX gained 2% y-o-y to 19.8 million contracts in January, the highest amount in four months.

Equity index futures traded volume rose 4% y-o-y to 14.8 million contracts, bolstered by a 20% increase in SGX FTSE China A50 Index Futures to 8.8 million – the highest since July 2020.

In foreign exchange (forex) futures, the total trading volume climbed 3% m-o-m to 2.1 million contracts, the highest amount since September 2020.

SGX INR/USD Futures rose 8% to 1.2 million, while SGX USD/CNH Futures were down 3% at 844,967 contracts amid reduced volatility.

SGX commodity derivatives traded volume increased 31% y-o-y to 2.1 million contracts in January, with gains across the exchange’s unique “virtual steel mill” offering.

Iron ore derivatives climbed 27% to 1.6 million contracts, while forward freight derivatives advanced 51% to a record high of 140,083 contracts.

As at end-January, the total market capitalisation value of 695 listed companies stood at $885.46 billion.

Shares in SGX closed 2 cents higher or 0.2% up at $9.86 on Feb 9.