SGX: Daily securities turnover fell 13% year-on-year in December

THE daily average value of securities traded on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) fell 13 per cent year-on-year in December to S$837 million, according to the latest statistics by the market operator.

Against November, daily average securities turnover slid 19 per cent.

Total securities market turnover stood at S$16.7 billion over December's 20 trading days. This figure is down 22 per cent month-on-month, and down 13 per cent year-on-year. There were 21 trading days in November 2018, and 20 in December 2017.

The market turnover value of structured warrants and daily leveraged certificates (DLCs) rose 10 per cent year-on-year S$988 million, but was just under half of the turnover for November.

The total market capitalisation value of the 741 listed companies on SGX stood at S$936.87 billion at the end of December.

There were also two Catalist listings during the month that raised S$15.2 million.

Medical support services company, Medinex, made its debut on the SGX Catalist board on Dec 7. The counter had an initial offer price of S$0.25 per share, and raised gross proceeds of S$7.5 million. Catalist-listed HC Surgical Specialists (HCSS) is a substantial shareholder of Medinex.

The second listing was medtech firm Biolidics Limited, which debuted on the Singapore bourse on Dec 19. The stock had a listing price of S$0.28, and raised gross proceeds of S$7.7 million during its initial public offering. Biolidics' substantial shareholders include Catalist-listed integrated healthcare group Clearbridge Health, and Seeds Capital, the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore.

In the month of December, there were also 28 new bond listings, which raised S$14.2 billion.

Total derivatives volume was 18.35 million for the month, up 17 per cent year-on-year, but down 7 per cent from November.

For the full-year, derivatives volume rose to a record 217.4 million in 2018, up 22 per cent from 2017.

The market turnover of all securities products also rose, by 22 per cent to S$23.5 billion in 2018.