Singapore bond market posting strong 2014 growth

THE local bond market has recorded strong growth this year, with Singapore-domiciled firms issuing US$19.7 billion worth of bonds so far in 2014, an increase of 22.6 per cent from the first nine months of 2013 and the highest nine-month haul since the record US$27.7 billion raised in 2012.

According to preliminary data from Thomson Reuters, the third quarter alone this year has seen US$7.9 billion raised, which is 23 per cent more than 2014's second quarter and 60.3 per cent higher than the same period last year.

"DBS Group Holdings currently leads the Singaporean-issued bonds underwriting this year, with related proceeds of US$4.3 billion from 45 new issues, and 21.9 per cent market share," said Thomson Reuters in a Sept 19 release. It added that DBS booked an estimated US$15 million in fee revenues.