SGX securities trading value jumps 70% in May amid ‘robust’ trading activity

[SINGAPORE] Robust trading activity and sustained investor participation across all market segments propelled Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) securities market turnover value up 70 per cent year on year at S$45.8 billion in May 2026, the local bourse reported on Wednesday (Jun 10).

Securities daily average value (SDAV) for the month jumped 79 per cent year on year to S$2.4 billion, the highest level recorded since October 2007

This came as Singapore’s stock market claimed the title of South-east Asia’s largest by market capitalisation and demand for trusted risk-management tools expanded across equities, FX and commodities, SGX said.

Derivatives traded volume increased 20 per cent year on year to 30.5 million contracts, while daily average volume for derivatives gained 27 per cent to 1.6 million contracts, marking the third-largest on record.

Local equity rally

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) advanced 3.5 per cent month on month in May, hitting an all-time high of 5,072 points on May 19. This was driven by banking- and technology-led gains.

STI exchange-traded funds also booked their 15th consecutive month of net inflows, drawing S$129 million in May to bring year-to-date inflows to S$687 million.

“Momentum in small- and mid-cap stocks excluding real estate investment trusts (Reits) continued to accelerate,” SGX said.

SDAV for this segment rose 24 per cent month on month and multiplied by more than four times year on year.

Institutional investors remained net buyers of small- and mid-caps for the fifth consecutive month, pushing total inflows over the past 12 months past S$800 million.

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Institutional investors also led the SDAV increase across all investor segments, which grew S$184 million month on month.

As for retail investor participation, retail SDAV climbed 11 per cent month on month, surpassing its February peak to mark a 13-year-high.

“Cumulative net inflows by retail investors exceeded S$1.5 billion over the first five months of this year, reflecting sustained interest in Singapore equities,” the local bourse said.

Derivatives and commodities volumes rise

The bourse cited “round-the-clock activity in FX futures” for May.

“Market participants actively managed risk through FX futures as signs of a resilient US economy placed sustained pressure on Asian currencies,” SGX said.

Total DAV across all listed FX futures rose 29.6 per cent year on year to 505,864 lots. Average open interest grew 18.9 per cent year on year to 544,651 lots.

In commodities, DAV rose 4.7 per cent year on year, supported by trading in bellwether iron ore contracts, forward freight agreements (FFA) and SGX Sicom rubber derivatives.

Underpinned by persistent hedging demand, average open interest for the year-to-date period through May gained 20.6 per cent year on year.

Container FFA activity also clocked a new high of 2,568 contracts.

Capital-raising activity gathers pace

Capital-raising activity also gathered pace in May.

On May 22, regional flexible-workspace operator JustCo Holdings was listed on the mainboard.

Three Catalist-listed companies – Lum Chang Creations , CNMC Goldmine Holdings and Koh Brothers Eco Engineering – also proposed transfers to the mainboard.

Meanwhile, secondary placements by non-Reit issuers, including Hong Leong Asia and Aspial Lifestyle , raised a combined S$316 million.

Shares of SGX ended at S$21.70, S$0.01 or 0.05 per cent lower, before the announcement.