Singapore stocks: Once bitten, twice shy

AS a seasoned stock market investor since the 1990s, Ken is no stranger to market fluctuations and paper losses. As of today, the 56-year-old has lost some S$300,000 in the Singapore stock market, while his investments in the United States and Hong Kong have given him sizeable profits. "Retail investors don't have much confidence here, they're getting toasted," he tells The Business Times. "I've lost so much money that I'm scared."

While Singapore continues to be lauded as a financial hub, drawing big business and billions in foreign investment, the local stock market appears to have lost some of its appeal to retail, or non-professional, investors like Ken. Concerns like regulatory lapses and lack of liquidity, he says, have diminished confidence.

"I would generally avoid the Singapore market unless there are sound stocks like the blue-chips," he says, "but I have allocated less for Singapore unless we see a marked improvement in the supervisory environment here".