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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Here are the 10 best-performing ETFs on SGX
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox As at June, Singapore's ETF market comprised 47 listings with total assets under management reaching $14.3 billion, up 32 per cent year on year. SINGAPORE - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) have recorded net inflows of $700 million in the first half of 2025, according to the local bourse's latest ETF Market Highlights report. This is supported by $1.2 billion in net creations across 22 ETFs, alongside $500 million in net redemptions from 13 ETFs. As at June, Singapore's ETF market comprised 47 listings with total assets under management (AUM) reaching $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. Inflows for Singapore-focused ETFs stood at $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 $2.8 billion in June. Here are the top 10 SGX-listed ETFs in terms of total returns for the first half of 2025. As a gauge, the US S&P 500 is up more than 8 per cent this year. 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 $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 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 first half year 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 $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 the first half, its return 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 first-half 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 return 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 a first half half return 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 $1.2 billion, surpassing the last high in September 2024 of around $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 with 7.5 per cent. 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 $400 million as at June 26.
Business Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
StanChart brings maximum interest rate on savings account to record 8.05%
[SINGAPORE] While local banks are dropping their interest rates on savings accounts, Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart) has raised its rates to an all-time high. Its revised interest rates, which took effect on Jun 1, is a two percentage point increase to 8.05 per cent, from 6.05 per cent previously. This is the highest rate available in the industry for comparable savings accounts. Conversely, local banks such as UOB and OCBC trimmed the interest rates on their respective savings accounts last month to align with 'long-term interest rate environment expectations'. Bonus$aver, StanChart's flagship deposit account, features a tiered interest rate structure, rewarding clients who deepen their engagement with the bank through activities such as salary crediting, card spend, insurance and investment. A new enhancement to the investment category will allow equity trades of at least S$20,000 through its online trading service, SC Online Trading, to qualify for interest alongside unit trust purchases. Account holders will still have to fulfil several criteria to earn the bonus interest rates – including crediting a minimum monthly salary of S$3,000 and spending a minimum of S$1,000 on eligible credit and debit cards. 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 With the new rates, account holders who meet the criteria are now able to earn a bonus interest rate of 1.5 per cent each year, up from 1 per cent, for card spend and salary credit. They will also have to be insured and investing with the bank, where they can enjoy interest rates of up to 2.5 per cent. While its base interest rate of 0.05 per cent remains unchanged, interest rates across all other engagement pillars were raised to provide 'additional value to clients'. With all conditions met, clients are able to earn the maximum interest rate of 8.05 per cent on the first average daily balance of S$100,000. 'By integrating banking with wealth solutions, we're offering clients a smarter way to grow their savings while deepening their relationship with the bank,' said Usman Khalid, global and Singapore head for deposits, mortgages and payments at StanChart. The inclusion comes with the bank's effort to recognise the growing interest in stock trading. The lender said that new client acquisition jumped 50 per cent in 2024. Its online trading platform also saw a rise of more than 65 per cent in trading volumes last year. For the first time, the bank is also offering shares tied with new clients opening a deposit account from now till Jun 30. Besides opening the account, they would also have to apply for a Bonus$aver World Mastercard credit card with a deposit of minimally S$50,000 in fresh funds. These new clients will then receive 50 units of SPDR Straits Times Index ETF, which is the first locally created exchange-traded fund. 'The Bonusaver headline rate matches the overall relationship value clients have with Standard Chartered, covering daily banking as well as wealth solutions,' said Khalid. 'While we continuously monitor macro trends, this holistic approach allows us to sustainably offer such a proposition, rewarding clients who choose us as their primary banking partner.'
