SGX to stay open and accessible
Angela Tan
Singapore
SINGAPORE Exchange (SGX) on Friday said its securities and derivatives markets will remain open and accessible as Singapore closes most workplaces for a month from Tuesday.
Loh Boon Chye, chief executive of SGX, said the exchange is a key financial market infrastructure for international and retail investors.
"Our priority is to ensure that our markets are always available and accessible, so that our clients can manage their investment portfolios during these volatile times," he said, adding that employees' and customers' safety are of the utmost importance.
SGX has been working smoothly from split sites and from home for almost two months, he added.
"Close to 80 per cent of our employees in Singapore will be working from home as per Ministry of Health's (MOH) guidance," Mr Loh said.
The statement follows the affirmation by the Monetary Authority of Singapore that financial services are among the essential services exempted from the suspension of activities at workplace premises under the elevated safe distancing measures announced by the health ministry.
Mr Loh said SGX, supported by market participants such as brokerage firms, liquidity providers, market makers and data vendors, will ensure continued availability of the markets.
CDP services will stay available and most can be accessed without visiting the CDP Customer Service Centre. From April 6, the centre will assist with some services on an appointment-only basis.
These include share transfers, updating of signatures, estate account processing and deposit/withdrawal of share certificates.
