Digital literacy: About 250,000 people to benefit from S$3m boost to national fund, workshops
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
4 minutes ago
- Business Times
These are the 10 top-performing ETFs on SGX; Reit ETF AUM hits new high of S$1.2 billion
[SINGAPORE] Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) have recorded net inflows of S$700 million in the first half of this year, according to the local bourse's ETF Market Highlights report for H1 2025. This is supported by S$1.2 billion in net creations across 22 ETFs, alongside S$500 million in net redemptions from 13 ETFs. As at June 2025, Singapore's ETF market comprised 47 listings with total assets under management (AUM) reaching S$14.3 billion, up 32 per cent year on year. Equity and gold ETFs led the growth, with turnover increasing by 69 per cent and 62 per cent respectively. Retail segment turnover also saw strong momentum, climbing 67 per cent year on year. Inflows for Singapore-focused ETFs stood at S$568 million, driven by declining Singapore dollar rates and robust market momentum. In particular, the combined AUM of the SPDR Straits Times Index ETF and Nikko AM Singapore STI ETF hit a record high of S$2.8 billion in June 2025. Here are the top 10 SGX-listed ETFs in terms of total returns for H1 2025. As a gauge, the S&P 500 is up more than 8 per cent this year. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 1. SPDR Gold Shares The SPDR Gold Shares ETF tracks the performance of gold bullion, with its underlying index being LBMA Gold Price PM. As such, it provides investors with direct exposure to gold prices without the need to hold physical metal. Its return rate was the highest among all SGX-listed ETFs for the half year at 17 per cent. With growing geopolitical uncertainties and robust safe-haven demand, the ETF saw record inflows and AUM, as holdings surged 75 per cent year on year to reach S$2.4 billion in June 2025. 2. Phillip SING Income ETF The top Singapore equity ETF for H1 of this year offers exposure to 30 high-yielding SGX-listed stocks screened for quality and financial health. Its interest is in income-focused strategies and has a dividend yield of 3.6 per cent. It tracks the Morningstar Singapore Yield Focus Index and saw a return of 11.9 per cent for the half year and nearly 26 per cent for the full year. 3. Lion-Nomura Japan Active ETF (Powered by AI) An actively managed ETF using artificial intelligence (AI)-driven models to select constituents from Japan's Tokyo Stock Price Index, its returns for the first half of this year was at 11.7 per cent. Its total returns for one year stood at 13.8 per cent. The Lion-Nomura Japan Active ETF is the second best performing equity ETF on SGX for the half year. 4. Lion-OCBC Securities Hang Seng Tech ETF The ETF tracks the Hang Seng Tech Index, and provides exposure to 30 of the largest Chinese tech firms listed in Hong Kong, such as Tencent, Alibaba, and Meituan. Its H1 2025 return stood at 10.4 per cent. The Lion-OCBC Securities Hang Seng Tech ETF continued to perform well amid China's stimulus efforts and optimism on AI-related technologies despite broader macro challenges. Its top three sectors are consumer discretionary, communications and information technology, with its AUM standing at S$378 million as at May 2025. 5. Lion-OCBC Securities APAC Financials Dividend Plus ETF This ETF tracks top dividend-paying financial stocks across Apac via the iEdge APAC Financials Dividend Plus Index, with a 9.9 per cent return recorded for the period. It is able to offer stable income and quality exposure to the region's banking and insurance sectors, and benefits from regional rate cut expectations. The Lion-OCBC Securities APAC Financials Dividend Plus ETF is the fourth top-performing equity SGX-listed ETF for the half year. 6. Xtrackers FTSE Vietnam Swap UCITS ETF This ETF offers exposure to Vietnam's equity market, which made gains on manufacturing recovery and foreign direct investment inflows. It tracks the FTSE Vietnam Index, and benefits from Vietnam's export-driven growth and regional supply chain shifts. For H1 2025, its returns stood at 9.9 per cent. It is the fifth top-performing equity SGX-listed ETF for the half year. 7. CGS-Fullgoal Vietnam 30 Sector Capped ETF The CGS-Fullgoal Vietnam 30 Sector Capped ETF tracks 30 of Vietnam's top-performing sectors with caps to prevent over-concentration. It gives investors balanced exposure across financials, industrials, and consumer sectors – key growth drivers in the country's economy. The ETF's underlying index is the SGX iEdge Vietnam 30 Index, and recorded a H1 2025 return of 9.7 per cent. 8. Xtrackers MSCI Singapore UCITS ETF The ETF benefited from the recovery in property and banking stocks, and Singapore dollar-focused investor sentiment amid falling local rates. It provides exposure to large-, mid-, and small-cap Singapore companies by tracking the MSCI Singapore Investable Market Total Return Net Index, with a first half of 2025 return rate of 9.7 per cent. 9. UOB APAC Green REIT ETF Focused on high-yield real estate investment trusts (Reits) across Apac with strong ESG credentials, the UOB APAC Green Reit ETF achieved the best half year performance among the five Reit ETFs listed on the SGX. It tracks the iEdge-UOB APAC Yield Focus Green Reit Index, with half year returns at 9.3 per cent. The ETF recorded the highest returns among SGX's sustainability-linked ETFs as well for H1 of this year. 10. Xtrackers MSCI China UCITS ETF This ETF offers broad exposure to Chinese equities including tech, financials, and consumer names, as its underlying index is the MSCI China TR Net Daily USD Index. For the half year, its returns stood at 8.9 per cent. It tracks the performance of large and mid-cap Chinese companies across A Shares, H Shares, B Shares, Red Chips, P Chips and foreign listings. Reit ETFs see new AUM all-time high; S-Reits record strong distribution yield Amid the current murky geopolitical and global trade climate, SGX-listed Reit ETFs displayed strength in the first half, with S-Reit ETFs offering highest returns in June. S-Reit ETFs also have the highest gross dividend indicated yields of up to 6 per cent now. The AUM value of Reit ETFs achieved a new record of nearly S$1.2 billion, surpassing the last high in September 2024 of around S$1 billion. UOB APAC Green Reit ETF recorded the top half-year returns level of 9.3 per cent followed by Phillip APAC Div Reit ETF whose H1 return rate stood at 7.5 per cent. It achieved 4.4 per cent returns in Q2, beating its peers in total returns over a 3- month period. CSOP iEdge S-Reit ETF was the best performer for the month of June, returning 4.7 per cent. The five Reit ETFs pay out an average dividend of close to 5.2 per cent, with the CSOP iEdge S-Reit ETF's 12-month gross yield at about 6 per cent. According to SGX data in June, retail investors were the net buyers of S-Reits, as the sector received a total net retail inflow of around S$400 million as at Jun 26, 2025. The report noted that investor interest in S-Reits has been 'reignited' in the first half of this year, as reflected in strong total inflows of S$155 million in H1 2025.
CNA
21 minutes ago
- CNA
Philippine inflation at near 6-year low, paves way for rate cuts
MANILA :Philippine consumer prices rose at their slowest pace in nearly six years in July as utility costs moderated and food prices declined, the statistics agency said on Tuesday, potentially allowing the central bank to cut interest rates later this year. The consumer price index rose 0.9 per cent year on year, the lowest rate since October 2019, and below the 1.1 per cent median forecast in a Reuters poll. The July figure was also less than June's 1.4 per cent. That brought the average rate in the seven-month period to 1.7 per cent, below the central bank's 2.0 per cent to 4.0 per cent target for the year. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona told Reuters last week the central bank was on track to slash its key interest rate, currently at a two-and-a-half-year low of 5.25 per cent, two more times this year, but the timing will depend on the outlook for growth and inflation. "On balance, a more accommodative monetary policy stance remains warranted," the central bank said in a statement following the data. "Emerging risks to inflation from rising geopolitical tensions and external policy uncertainty will require closer monitoring, alongside the continued assessment of the impact of prior monetary policy adjustments," it added. The July inflation slowdown was partly driven by a faster annual decline in rice prices, which fell 15.9 per cent, compared with June's 14.3 per cent drop. The statistics agency said the downward trend in rice inflation was likely to persist in the next few months. However, core inflation - which excludes volatile food and energy prices - slightly quickened to 2.3 per cent in July from 2.2 per cent the prior month. The Philippines, which has lowered its growth forecast for 2025 to 5.5 per cent-6.5 per cent from an earlier forecast of 6 per cent-8 per cent, will announce second quarter GDP data on August 7.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Some in BOJ saw scope to hike rates if trade friction eases, June minutes show
TOKYO :Some Bank of Japan policymakers saw scope to resume interest rate increases once trade friction caused by U.S. tariffs eased, minutes of the bank's June meeting showed, a sign Tokyo's recent trade deal with Washington cleared a key hurdle for more hikes. At the June meeting, many members said the central bank must keep interest rates steady due to downside risks to the economy from U.S. tariffs, the minutes showed on Tuesday. But they also saw inflation overshooting expectations, with some warning that recent rises in food costs could affect public perceptions on future inflation, the minutes showed. "Given high uncertainties, the BOJ would likely pause rate hikes for the time being. But it also must respond flexibly and nimbly, and return to a rate-hike phase depending on U.S. policy developments," one member was quoted as saying. Another member said the BOJ might need to raise rates decisively even when uncertainty remained high, given the fact inflation remained higher than expected. "As wages had been solid and prices had been slightly higher than expected, the Bank would likely shift away from the current wait-and-see approach and consider resuming rate hikes, if trade friction de-escalates," a few members were quoted as saying. The remarks highlight the board's growing attention to upside inflation risks, which led the BOJ to signal its readiness to keep raising rates even as U.S. tariffs clouded the economic outlook. At the June 16-17 meeting, the BOJ kept interest rates steady at 0.5 per cent and decided to decelerate the pace of its balance sheet drawdown next year, signalling its preference to move cautiously in removing remnants of its massive stimulus. The impact of U.S. tariffs was the focus of debate at the June meeting, which was held before Japan clinched a trade deal with the U.S. in July and won cuts to hefty tariffs. While one member cautioned that it would take some time to gauge the impact of U.S. tariffs on corporate earnings, some said the hit to growth from the higher levy could be smaller than initially expected, the minutes of the June meeting showed. Japanese companies appear to have shed their long-held view that wages and prices must be kept low, one member said, adding the focus would be whether firms would keep hiking pay even if their profits are squeezed by U.S. tariffs. "I'm paying attention to the fact we're seeing home-made inflation emerge, as seen in rising wages driven by labour shortages," another member was quoted as saying. In deciding on next year's bond taper plan, some in the board also saw the need to scrutinise the desirable size of the BOJ's balance sheet in the long run, the minutes showed. While one member said it was desirable for the BOJ to eventually reduce monthly bond buying to zero, another said a cut to around 1 trillion yen ($6.8 billion) would suffice, the minutes said. The central bank is currently tapering bond buying so that monthly purchases slow to around 3 trillion yen by March 2026. In an extended taper plan decided in June, the BOJ expects monthly purchases fall to around 2 trillion yen by March 2027. The BOJ kept interest rates steady at a subsequent meeting on July 30-31. But it revised up its inflation forecasts and offered a less gloomy outlook on the economy, keeping alive the possibility of a resumption in rate hikes this year.
